Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut 

Area Architetti

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

ARCHITECTS
Area Architetti

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Graf Und Söhne

MANUFACTURERS
Esse Solai, Gufler Metall, Holka Genossenschaft, Zumtobel

STRUCTURE ENGINEERS
Gap Progetti, Alessandro Gasparini, Nicola Rossini - Gap Progetti

INSTALLATIONS ENGINEER
Gap Progetti, Dario Ferrari - Gap Progetti

PHOTOGRAPHS
Samuel Holzner, Paolo Tenaglia

PROJECT MANAGER
Stefan Canale

AREA
938 M²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Moos In Passeier, Italy

CATEGORY
Hospitality Architecture, Residential

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

Text description provided by architect.

LOCATION AND PREMISES

The Hut is located at 2875 m above sea level. The refuge is the starting point for tours to some of the highest peaks of the region. The original hut was built between 1895 and 1897.

The hut, which is now owned by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in South Tyrol, was built in its penultimate form in 1992 and was badly damaged by an avalanche in February 2014.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia

Following these events, an international planning competition was organized to draw up a preliminary project for the new hut. Due to the existing, still functional infrastructural development, the shelter was to be rebuilt on the site of the destroyed building.

INSPIRATIONS AND KEY CONCEPTS

The architectural concept is based on three objectives: 1. the shape of the building has to be recognizable as an important landmark in the landscape, clearly recognizable as a man-made presence and as a protected and safe place.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

2. the various functional blocks must form a single compact settlement of small dimensions that blends harmoniously into the landscape and dialogues with the context through form, material and color.

3. a form should be defined that can withstand the stresses of an avalanche. The need to withstand the dynamic pressure of avalanches inspired the irregular and dynamic shape of the structures, which gives them a special, expressive character and creates a dialogue with the surrounding rock structures through the abstract analogy.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

The faceted, crystal-like surfaces of the volumes, made of reddish-colored concrete, are based on the surrounding iron oxide-rich rocks and are reminiscent of the garnet crystals typical of the valley.

DIFFICULTIES

The shape of the building was designed to minimize the pressure of an avalanche on the structural elements: the acute angle in the direction of the avalanche head (like the bow of a ship minimizes the resistance to avalanches.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

The building materials were transported by a specially constructed cable car. Some materials were transported by helicopter, which was also used to transport construction personnel.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND PRINCIPAL MATERIALS

The foundations of the entire building are made of reinforced concrete.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

In addition, tie rods with continuous threads were inserted in the rock to prevent the building from sliding down the valley in the event of an avalanche.

The windows and entrance openings are protected with precisely dimensioned COR-TEN steel shutters and heavy shutters, which are closed and locked before the onset of winter cold.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

The outer walls are constructed using double prefabricated tinted reinforced concrete slabs with an in-situ concrete core and an insulating layer.

SPATIAL CONFIGURATION

Daytime functions such as the dining rooms (Stube), bar, storage rooms, workshops, and the kitchen with its service rooms located on the ground floor.

The upper floors house the rooms and sanitary facilities. Warehouses and technical rooms are located in the basement.

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner

The maximum calculated and permitted occupancy corresponds to a total of 98 persons present at the same time. There are 96 beds including those for staff.


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Paolo Tenaglia
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
© Samuel Holzner


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Model
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Model


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Ground Floor Plan
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
1st Floor Plan
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
2nd Floor Plan
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
3rd Floor Plan


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Site Plan

Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Diagram


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
East Elevation
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
West Elevation
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
South Elevation
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
North Elevation


Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Section A
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Section B
Rifugio Petrarca Stettiner Hut
Sketch