Dezeen Magazine

Movie shows climbers' shelter by OFIS being airlifted into remote Alpine spot

In this movie, Slovenian studio OFIS Arhitekti shows how the tiny Alpine cabin it designed for climbers was helicoptered into its precarious mountain-top position. 

OFIS Arhitekti designed the Kanin Winter Cabin to withstand extreme weather conditions on Mount Kanin and was commissioned by the Slovenian Mountaineer Association.

The cabin measures just less than 10 square metres but is designed to sleep up to 9 mountaineers seeking refuge from the weather.

The angular cross-laminated timber, structure is clad in aluminium and tethered to a rocky outcrop by cables.

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The cabin initially featured on Dezeen in November 2016.

The video shows the prefabricated cabin being collected by a Slovenian army helicopter crew and airlifted into its precarious position.

It is the latest in a series of videos showing the studio's Alpine projects, including the deserted cattle shed it converted into a holiday home and another mountain-top cabin designed for climbers.

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The cabin, which is located in such a remote spot it is only accessible by climbers or by helicopter, cantilevers over the edge of the mountain.

Columnar glazing set into this end of the cabin frames views of the surrounding peaks from the sleeping platforms within.

"This particular site was chosen because of its 360-degree views over Slovenia and Italy, and spectacular views to Triglav, Soca Valley and Adriatic sea," said the studio, when we featured the project in late 2016.

"It will become a destination for hikers, climbers, cavers, mountaineers, nature lovers and romantics."

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OFIS Arhitekti – which is featured on the Dezeen Hot List as one of the top 400 forces in global architecture and design – created a similar cabin for climbers attempting Slovenia's Skuta Mountain.

Photography is by Janez Martincic.


Project credits:

Architects: OFIS Arhitekti
Project Team: Rok Oman, Spela Videcnik, Janez Martincic, Andrej Gregoric, 
Sara Carciotti, Jamie Lee, 
Maria Della Mea, 
Vincenzo Roma, 
Andrea Capretti
, Jade Manbodh
, Sam Eadington, Roberta Costa, Soo Woo
Structural engineering and principal contractor: Contemporary Building Design (CBD)
Project team: Bruno Dujic, Jure Jancar
Execution team: Jure Jancar, Ziga Stepisnik, Martin Gradisnik
Contractor: Permiz/Bostjan Perme
Matevz Jerman, Ortar in Jerman
Organisation support: PZS Planinska zveza Slovenije, Matej Planko, Dusan Prasnikar, PD Bovec, Robert Rot, Turistično društvo Bovec, Janko Humar, Robert Rot, Milivoj Sulin
Helicopter flights: Slovene Armed Forces helicopter crew
Chief pilot: Davorin Draginc
Co-pilot: Peter Paskulin
Pilot technician: Grega Ponikvar
Pilot rescuer: Dusan Hrncic
On-site construction team: Janez Martincic, Andrej Gregoric, Isa Plibersek, Matevz Jerman, Davor Rozman, Nikolaj Gregoric, Robert Rehar, Claudio Bratos, Andrej Fratnik, Matej in Jernej Naglost, Marko Plevelj, Gregor Plevelj, Miha Luzar, Aljaz Hribar, Marjan Kogovsek, Kristina Seljak, Tjasa Rutar, Gregor Basiaco, Luka Zalokar, Zdenka Zitko, Blaz Ortar, Jernej Ortar, Uros Grilj, Erik Cudr, Marina Pintar, Gregor Pintar, Matej Blatnik , Marjan Baricic, Andrej Drevensek, Jerry Ruditser, Robert Rot
Sponsors and donators: Lidl Slovenija, Zavarovalnica Triglav
Timber CLT construction: CBD
Glass: Reflex, Guardian Europe
Thermal and fire safe Insulations: Rockwool Adriatic
Facade cladding: Alucubond and Ravago
Anchors: Hilti, Trzin
Steele cables fixation: Marmet
Abyss fall protection: Geobrugg
Facade cladding fixation screws: Epro
Power equipment: AS Domzale Moto center
Client: PD Bovec

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