The development process behind this tiny Alpine shelter located below Skuta Mountain in Slovenia is a perfect example of students learning architectural design through practical experience. The structure was designed by students at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design as part of their Habitation in Extreme Environments course, led by Rok Oman and Spela Videcnik of OFIS arhitekti, manufactured by London-based structural engineering firm AKT II and transported in segments by the Slovenian army via helicopter.
Built for extreme weather on an inaccessible location, the project presented a great opportunity for students to tackle the ever-relevant concept of the Existenzminimum. Check out this extraordinary video of the building’s components being lowered into place:
The new Alpine cabin replaces a 50-year-old bivouac and offers overnight shelter to up to eight mountaineers. Inspired by the vernacular architecture of Slovenia, the concrete-clad structure features a modified pitched roof and glazed gables that provide stunning views of the rugged landscape.
Among 12 proposals, the team chose the design by students Frederick Kim, Katie MacDonald and Erin Pellegrino as the most practical yet innovative solution that can mitigate the effects of extreme environmental forces and withstand radical temperature shifts, snow and potential landslides.
© Anže Čokl
The shelter needed to be lightweight in order to be transported via helicopter yet sturdy and resilient enough to provide a safe environment where mountaineers can rest and enjoy views of the surroundings. The team ensured that the shelter is strongly anchored into the ground and enveloped the structure with the highly resistant Rieder thin glass fiber öko skin concrete elements.
© AnŠ¾e Äokl
Three modules make up the structure: one with the entrance, storage and a small area for food preparation; the second one with the main space and sleeping quarters; and another element with bunkbeds. This modular configuration made it possible to transport the building to the foothill of the third-tallest peak in Slovenia’s Kamnik Alps and cut the onsite assembly time.
© Anže Čokl
By participating in the design and construction of the Alpine shelter, students were confronted with a wider array of practical issues compared to the standard, student-designed temporary pavilion. While the latter can provide useful experience working with complex geometries and materials, the programmatic requirements and practical challenges of the Alpine shelter project hit closer to the reality of the profession.
Dealing with the concept of minimum-subsistence dwellings and difficult environmental conditions prepares students for demanding clients, less than perfect site configurations and highly scrutinized programmatic organization.
Photos by Anze Cokl , Andrej Gregoric and Janez Martincic