D-BAUG - Departement Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik - ETH Zürich

Key Article ▪ New Monte Rosa Hut SAC
The mountain hut of the future – the New Monte Rosa Hut SAC
High above Zermatt, exposed at an altitude of 2883 m above sea level in the centre of
the spectacular Monte Rosa massive, ETH Zurich and the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) have
successfully concluded a ground-breaking project in high alpine construction.
by Patrick Dilger, Planning & Controlling D-BAUG
The project on the New Monte Rosa Hut SAC was launched
in 2005, the 150th jubilee year of ETH Zurich. In collaboration
with SAC, ETH Zurich strove to construct a transforming,
innovative and ecologically sustainable hut, exemplary
in design and technology, and mirroring the research
conducted at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
ETH Zurich considers this visionary mountain hut, nicknamed
“Mountain Crystal”, to be the most complex timber
construction in Switzerland. In addition to elaborating the
project’s architectonic and technical concepts, ETH Zurich
actively searched for sponsors, but did not contribute to the
construction costs amounting to CHF 6.5 million.
Due to the extreme climatic conditions, construction had
to be completed during the five spring/summer months.
Each cubic metre of cement, each wooden element and
every single screw were flown to the site by helicopter.
Bearing in mind that a maximum load was limited to 600
kg, the high level of prefabricated elements had to be ready
to assemble. Since Mountain Crystal’s wooden construction
is enveloped in a layer of lamellar aluminium fascia,
its polygonal shape glistens and glows in the heart of
this majestic rocky landscape. Not only pioneering in terms
of its facade, the alpine hut is also eco-friendly.The high alpine
building is 90% energy self-sufficient. Starting in
March 2010, “Mountain Crystal” is scheduled to welcome
approximately 120 guests. For further information, see:
www.neuemonterosahuette.ch
www.sac-cas.ch
D-BAUG was also involved in the construction of the New
Monte Rosa Hut SAC, providing input on ecological sustainability
and fire prevention. The following two articles focus
on these topics.
38 ▪ D-BAUG Annual Report 2009
Map section: Monterosa area
Publication (available in German only)
«Neue Monte-Rosa-Hütte SAC
Ein autarkes Bauwerk im hochalpinen Raum»
Vorworte von
Ralph Eichler, Meinrad K.
Eberle, Reto Jenatsch,
Franz Steinegger.
Beiträge von
Paul Knüsel, Marie-Anne
Lerjen, Ákos Moravánszky,
Adolph Stiller.
Gespräch mit
Ákos Moravánszky, Andrea
Deplazes, David Gugerli.
Fotografien von
Tonatiuh Ambrosetti.
Ausführliche Projektdokumentation mit Beiträgen der
beteiligten Experten. 23x27 cm, Hardcover, 224 Seiten,
ca. 180 Abb., gta Verlag, Zürich 2010, ISBN 978-3-85676-273-5
CHF 65.– (inkl. MwSt., exkl. Versandkosten).