self-sufficient bivouac shelter by carlo ratti produces its own water and electricity in the alps

"In fact, the one Carlo Ratti Associati has designed can source its own energy, collect its own water, and support basic needs without outside help. It is because the design team used digital technology to study the local environment and build the structure so it fits well into the Alpine setting. They started it with a 3D scan of real rock formations in the Alps, where the scan captured the shape, size, and angles of the rocks"

"Carlo Ratti Associati's efforts result in a small prefabricated building made in pieces that can be transported easily, so the design can also be repeated or adjusted for other sites if needed. The bivouac shelter that can handle its own electricity and water uses cross-laminated timber for the main structure to make the remote installations easier when airlifted by helicopter."

Carlo Ratti Associati created a prefabricated wooden bivouac that generates its own electricity, collects water, and supports basic needs in remote Alpine locations. The project will debut as an urban pavilion during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and then be airlifted to a permanent mountain site to serve climbers and trekkers. Digital analysis began with a 3D scan of Alpine rock formations to shape a shelter that fits terrain and withstands local weather. The modular design uses cross-laminated timber, aerogel insulation, and a metal outer layer for structural strength and protection against snow, ice, and wind, with a glass front to admit natural light.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine