New Refuge Gervasutti by LEAPfactory

3 December 2011

Climbers in the Alps can now spend their nights sleeping in a tube that cantilevers over the edge of a mountain.

Top: photograph by Francesco Mattuzzi

Named New Refuge Gervasutti, the survival unit was designed by Italian architects LEAPfactory, who specialise in modular accommodation for extreme environments.

The tube was prefabricated off-site and airlifted to the site by helicopters.

Above: photograph by Marco Destefanis

A red pattern decorates the structure’s exterior to make it visible to climbers and mountaineers, who will often be approaching from a distance.

Above: photograph by Michelangelo Filippi

Bunk beds and storage closets occupy the back of the pod, whilst a living room with integrated kitchen and dining table are located inside the cantilever.

Above: photograph by Michelangelo Filippi

A large window gives guests a wide view of the landscape outside and an integrated computer provides detailed information about the weather and climate.

Another survival bunker we’ve featured protects its inhabitants from attack rather than the weather – see that mobile, indestructible dwelling here.

Photography is by Gughi Fassino, apart from where otherwise stated.

Above: Photograph by Marco Destefanis

Here’s a more detailed explanation from LEAPfactory:

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“New Refuge Gervasutti” by LEAPfactory

This, the first alpine refuge of the latest generation, it provides the optimal combination of comfort, safety and respect for the environment. It was installed in mid October 2011 in Courmayeur (IT) on the Freboudze glacier, in front of the spectacular East face of the Grandes Jorasses of the Mont Blanc Range. It is now ready for use by mountaineers and climbers.

The Gervasutti refuge was commissioned by CAI Torino, the Italian Alpine Club. Under the guidance of SUCAI the subsection of CAI Torino and the Ski Mountaineering School, the project was realised thanks to the works team coordinated by the LEAPfactory project managers Luca Gentilcore and Stefano Testa.

Above: Photograph by Michelangelo Filippi

The refuge represents the pinnacle of achievement of LEAPfactory, (the acronym means Living, Ecological, Alpine Pod) an Italian Company that designs, creates and produces modular structures which have minimal impact on the environment.

The realisation of the refuge is a great achievement, in that the materials used are of a high standard and use sophisticated technology capable of handling the problems of extreme temperatures and the difficulties of installation, given the altitude and the position in the midst of a glacier.