Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut

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    Project update 2010 - "Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland": After six years on the drawing board - two of which as a student project design - and a construction phase spanning two summers, the New Monte Rosa Hut near Zermatt opened in September 2009: Photo @ Markus Gerber

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    Neue_Monte_Rosa_Huette2.JPG: Photo @ Markus Gerber

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    View of the completed Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Switzerland: Photo @ Markus Gerber

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    Project update 2010 - "Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland": A photovoltaic system integrated into the building and the southern façade generates power: Photo @ Markus Gerber

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    Project update 2010 - "Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland": A bird's eye view of the photovoltaic system on the southern façade as viewed from a helicopter: Photo @ Markus Gerber

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    Holcim Awards Bronze 2008 Europe: Andrea Deplazes

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    The design includes a spiral-shaped glass band which follows the sun, bringing passive energy into the cascade staircase.

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    Holcim Awards Bronze 2008 Europe (l-r): Marcel Baumgartner, Project Manager and Andrea Deplazes, Dean of Architecture, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

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    Project entry 2008 Europe - "Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland": The new Monte Rosa hut at an altitude of 2,883m with views of the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn.

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    Project entry 2008 Europe - "Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland": Studies on logistics.

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    Project entry 2008 Europe - "Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland": Segment-shaped structure.

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    Integrated water circulation.

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    90% energetic autarky

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    Team image

  • Awards Bronze 2008–2009 Europe

Beside the Monte Rosa glacier in the Swiss Alps, the New Monte Rosa Hut was built by a partnership led by ETH Zurich and completed in September 2009. Switzerland’s most complex wooden structure is covered in a shimmering aluminum shell and features an integrated photovoltaic system. In splendid isolation at 2,883 meters above sea level, the building operates under extreme climatic conditions, is fully self-sufficient, and demonstrates that sustainable construction is possible anywhere.

By Andrea Deplazes - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Zurich, Switzerland and

Ideas: Circular Design

Beside the Monte Rosa glacier in the Swiss Alps, the New Monte Rosa Hut was built by a partnership led by ETH Zurich and completed in September 2009. Switzerland’s most complex wooden structure is covered in a shimmering aluminum shell and features an integrated photovoltaic system.

In splendid isolation at 2,883 meters above sea level, the building operates under extreme climatic conditions, is fully self-sufficient, and demonstrates that sustainable construction is possible anywhere.

Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut

Project authors

  • Andrea Deplazes

    Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich)

    Switzerland

  • Marcel Baumgartner

    Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich)

    Switzerland

Project updates

September 09, 2010 | Project Update | Zurich, Switzerland

A shining tribute to solar energy

Construction of the building was completed in September 2009 and the New Monte Rosa Hut SAC opened to the public in March 2010. 2,883 meters above sea level, the New Monte Rosa Hut is currently the most complex wooden construction in Switzerland. Covered in a shimmering silver aluminum shell and with a photovoltaic system integrated in the southern façade, it generates its own power and is expected to be at least 90% energy self-sufficient (excluding cooking).

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September 26, 2008 | Winners for Europe announced | Madrid, Spain

Showcasing sustainable buildings across Europe

Winners of the second European Holcim Awards competition for projects and visions in sustainable construction were announced at a ceremony in Madrid. Total prize money of USD 270,000 was presented to ten projects that demonstrate the latest in eco-friendly and sustainable approaches from the building and construction industry.

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June 26, 2008 | Regional Jury Report – Europe | Zurich, Switzerland

“A glittering crystal and a convincing demonstration of state of the art technology” – Holcim Awards Jury

The new Monte Rosa hut at an altitude of 2,883m above sea level and surrounded by the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps is extremely inspiring not only due to its glittering crystal shape but even more with regard to its convincing demonstration of state of the art technology. On the one hand, all the façade and load-bearing elements as well as the interior partition walls are the results of computer-aided design and computer-integrated manufacturing in a way that material consumption and transport weight are reduced to an absolute minimum. In addition, this innovative production technology facilitates the construction of the various elements and therefore cuts substantially on-site building time. 

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February 29, 2008 | Project Entry & Details | Zermatt, Switzerland

Project Entry 2008 for Europe

Beside the Monte Rosa glacier in the Swiss Alps, the Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut has been built by a partnership led by ETH Zurich. The project of the Swiss Alpine Club, to mark the 150th anniversary of the ETH Zürich, was launched in 2003. In splendid isolation, the building operates under extreme climatic conditions, is fully self-sufficient, and demonstrates that sustainable construction is possible anywhere.

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Location

pin Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland