Sunday Escape - Monte-Rosa-Hette

Want to relax in a setting surrounded by snow? The perfect place for you is a mountain hut located on the Monte Rosa massif in a landscape of ice and rock near Zermatt. It is a five-story wooden cabin designed by Bearth & Deplazes Architekten and located at an altitude of almost 3000 meters. The idea of its construction came from the combination of two need: to replace the original rustic Berghette of 1895 and the 150th anniversary of Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH). "The most complex wooden construction in Switzerland" is the result of a joint work, coordinated by Andrea Deplazes, of architecture students, experts from various universities and research institutes. The exposed location of the new Monte Rosa Hut was a challenge and the real need to minimize the weight of the construction material.

 
The nearest train station to the mountain is three hours of walking and heavy loads can be delivered only by helicopter, so it was essential to opt for a lightweight structure. In this case it is a prefabricated timber element structure and weighs only about 200 tons with frame system, coating in mineral fibers by 35 cm provided with a crimped aluminium cover, ventilated spaces. All it standed on a star-shaped steel assembly platform and supported by point foundations in concrete. 

The result is a hut with a compact shape made from May to September, characterized by a high degree of self-sufficiency, equal to 90% of the energy needed for its operation. The electricity is produced by a photovoltaic plant, while the heat comes from solar collectors. The remaining 10% is provided by a thermoelectric power plant block fueled with rapeseed oil, while the water is produced from the surrounding glaciers, then filtered and stored in huge tanks. Inside the building of five floors, all covered in wood, the lower level serves as a common area and incorporates a kitchen and seating range positioned towards the Matterhorn and surrounded by panoramic windows. A cascading staircase leads upstairs where there are five bedrooms, which can accommodate 120 people. The Monte-Rosa-Hette is open for overnight stays from March to September, after that  it is accessible only shelter for 12 visitors with kitchenette.