Small Lightweight Aluminum Modular Prefab House / Mountain Shelter

Schemes/Drawings/Floor plans

About Lusio Architects

About Vitosha Nature Park

Design: Lusio Architects
Area: 13,8 m2
Year: 2017
Location: Vitosha Nature Park, Bulgaria




Mountain shelters serve as protection for climbers during severe weather conditions. However, a Bulgarian project team found that many shelters were destroyed, putting climbers at risk. As a winning proposal in the "Architecture of 2050" competition, this innovative small lightweight aluminum modular prefab house addresses this critical problem through a combination of sustainability, materiality and technology.

"If the shelter is to withstand the weather, it must protect itself first."

Designed by Lusio Architects, this small lightweight aluminum modular prefab house consists of four separate aluminum modules. The modules can be delivered by helicopter and then assembled on site. When set up, the shelter appears "hidden" on the mountainside to "not attract unwanted visitors". In case of bad weather, the shelter becomes a beacon, "with lights and sound that make it extremely easy to find, even in the thickest fog."

There are several elements integrated into the small lightweight aluminum house to assist in the safety and rescue of climbers. A direct video connection to the mountain rescue team is automatically activated when someone enters the shelter, and a floor heating system is powered by the solar and wind energy captured and stored by this small modular house. A system of hammocks is also included on the walls of the shelter to provide multiple resting spaces while saving space.

Based on weather conditions, the lightweight prefab aluminum house changes modes to ensure the safety of the people inside. The modes include "FIND ME Mode", "RESCUE ME Mode" and in periods of better weather, "RELAX Mode".


Description by architects

Three factors from the deep-dive research formed the shelter’s design:

it has to be smart and hidden when not needed, as many of the shelters in Bulgaria are destroyed by vandalism
it has to shelter people in extreme weather conditions as temperatures in Vitosha can drop up to 20 degrees in one hour, which makes the mountain dangerous and often times underestimated
situated in Vitosha National Park, it has to be light and sustainable, with a minimal footprint

Design solutions

The modular lightweight aluminum house has to be smart in order to protect the mountaineers, but also itself from unwanted visitors.

Via aluminum coating it reflects its ambiance and remains hidden in good weather. In case of bad weather conditions, the shelter transforms into a beacon, with lights and sound that make it extremely easy to find even in the thickest of fogs. In this mode of operation, a person walking inside would automatically activate the floor heating and video connection with the mountain rescue service. The low-positioned windows would invite him to sit on the warm floor and in case that the group is large, there are integrated hammocks into the walls which are easily pulled out. Also, water and shoe-drying containers are placed at the entrance.

The lightweight aluminum modular house is sustainable and produces energy through solar panels and a wind turbine and stores it into a high-capacity battery; its use is prioritised only for emergency cases and critical life support. Sensors for weather conditions and occupancy govern the shelter’s different modes. If threatening human behaviour is detected, a signal is immediately sent to the local mountain service and a video connection is established.




Its body is extremely lightweight and is inspired by the aeroplane industry. In order to have a minimal footprint, its modules can be transported via helicopter and assembled on-site.

Skuta Alpine Shelter - Prefab Modular Mountain House

Drawing

Video

About OFIS Architects

Architects: AKT II, ​​Harvard GSD Students, OFIS Architects
Year: 2015
Photographs: Anze Cokl, Andrej Gregoric, Janez Martincic
Location: Zgornje Jezersko, Slovenia
Manufacturers: Guardian Glass, Rieder Group
Structural Engineering: AKT II, ​​London, United Kingdom; Hanif Kara; Edward Wilkes
Structural Engineer Local: Projecta, Milan Sorc
Engineering And Consulting: Freeapproved, Anze Cokl
Realization and Local Coordination: PD Ljubljana Matica, Slovenia; Matevz Jerman; Davor Rozman
Façade: Rieder Smart Elements, Austria; Wolfgang Rieder; Matthias Kleibel
Glass: Guardian, USA; Domen Komac
Bivouac Maintenance Representatives: Matevz Jerman; Davor Rozman
Main Contractor: Permiz d.o.o., Slovenia; Bostjan Perme
Anchoring and Fixing: Hilti, Slovenia
Thermal Installations and Fire Safety: ROCKWOOL stone wool
Construction Team: Alpinist section PD Ljubljana Matica, Visinska dela Orti; Team: Matevz Jerman, Jernej Ortar, Blaz Ortar, Davor Rozman, Natasa Vodopivec, Matevz Kastrin, Boris Mance, Boris Bokavsek, Luka Klemencic, Ziga Asic, Jernej Knop, Anze Klaric, Uros Grilj, Marko Granda, Boštjan Oblak
Helicopter flights: Slovenian Army - Tomaz Perse, Primoz Pintar, Andrej Groselj, Peter Smrkolj; Installation Support: Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia, GRZS - Brane Zorz, Tadej Mrak, Bojan Goli
Client: PD Ljubljana Matica




The prefab modular mountain house project developed by an architectural design studio at Harvard Graduate School of Design led by Rok Oman and Spela Videcnik of OFIS. In the fall of 2014, studios of thirteen students faced the challenges of designing an innovative, yet practical, prefab house/shelter to meet the extreme needs of the alpine climate. Inspired by Slovenian vernacular architecture with its rich and diverse architectural heritage, students produced twelve proposals that met various terrain conditions, material considerations, and programmatic concerns were produced and cataloged.

The extreme climatic conditions in the mountains introduced a design challenge for architects, engineers and designers.

Within a context of extreme risk to environmental forces, it is important to design buildings that can withstand extreme weather conditions, radical temperature changes and rugged terrain. Responding to environmental conditions is not only a protective measure, but also translates into an issue of immediate safety of life. The harsh conditions of wind, snow, landslides, terrain and climate demand a response of specific architectural forms and conceptual projects.

120 years after the installation of the Aljaz Tower in August 1895 in Triglav, this new prefab modular shelter was inserted under the Skuta mountain in the Kamnik Alps. It replaces the old 50-year-old camp that was previously on site.

The camp is an object that represents a basic human need, a shelter. It is a symbol of refuge. The exterior shape and the choice of materials were made to respond to the extreme conditions of the mountain, and also provide views of the stunning landscape.

Its implantation in the wild requires respect for natural resources and, therefore, it should be implanted in a light and safe way to ensure that the shelter was strongly anchored with minimal impact on the terrain. In addition, the outer layer needed to be made of a highly resistant material, together with fiberglass and concrete elements for the facade, which were able to meet all the requirements of aesthetics, material quality and the challenge of withstanding the harsh conditions.

The interior design imposes modesty, totally subordinated to the function of the shelter providing accommodation for up to eight climbers.

Inspired by traditional alpine architecture by constructive elements, materials, structure and form, the design scheme made by students Frederick Kim, Katie MacDonald and Erin Pellegrino was selected. After the end of the school semester, OFIS architects and AKT ll structural engineers continued to develop and adapt the project for the given terrain, responding to other contributions from climbers, Anze Cokl, Milan Sorc and other engineers and led the project to the throughout the planning phase.

The design consists of three prefab modules, partly to allow transportation and also to divide the space programmatically. The first is dedicated to entry, storage and a small space for food preparation. The second provides space for both to sleep and socialize while the third has a bunk area for sleeping. Windows at both ends offer beautiful panoramic views of the valley and Skuta Mountain.

Due to the nature of the installation process, the prefab mountain house was designed as a series of modules, so that it can be brought in parts to the mountain. The entire prototype was built off-site, in a workshop. The modules were designed as a series of robust frames, which would be structured together on site, providing a manageable installation and a less invasive base. In order to disturb the terrain on the mountain as little as possible, the modules are secured with strategically placed pin connections, which also act as the foundation on the ground. Glass is a triple panel system that has been designed to withstand heavy loads of wind and snow. The camp was set up by Ljubljana Matica under the direction of Matevz Jerman, with transport by helicopter with support from the Slovenian Armed Forces and a Mountain Rescue Service team - Ljubljana Station. The entire transport and installation process was carried out in one day.




Although the scale of the prefab modular mountain house is small, the project required a lot of effort and planning from more than sixty participants who were mostly volunteers and sponsors. Everyone agrees that, despite the small size, the project was no less demanding than any major construction project. However, all the effort and planning for this small-scale project is aimed at maintaining the memory, spirit and culture of the mountains as a special place for Slovenians. The hope is that the modular house will serve as a shelter for all climbers in need, and that through their care and attention to the camp they will continue to use it for many years.