Hasta La Ideas

Zaha Hadid has revealed images of her addition to the Messner Mountain Museum, a string of buildings dotted through the Dolomites of northern Italy.

For the sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum building, Zaha Hadid Architects has designed a softly curved building that will tunnel right through the peak of Mount Kronplatz, which forms part of the Kronplatz ski resort.

Like the five other museum buildings, the structure will house exhibitions exploring mountainous regions around the world. A pointed glass canopy will mark the entrance to the building, while a viewing platform will extend from the rockface on the opposite side.

“A composition of fluid, interconnected volumes, the 1000 square-metre MMM Corones design is carved within the mountain and informed by the geology and topography of its context,” says the studio.

Construction is already underway and the museum is set to open in 2014.

The Messner Mountain Museum also includes a building in a converted castle, completed by Italian studio EM2 in 2011.

Zaha Hadid Architects has several buildings nearing completion at the moment, including a university block in Hong Kong and an undulating cultural centre in Azerbaijan. See more architecture by Zaha Hadid »

Here’s a project description from Zaha Hadid Architects:

Zaha Hadid Architects will design the sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum at Plan de Corones, South Tyrol, Italy. In collaboration with Reinhold Messner, one of the world’s most renowned mountaineers, as well as Kronplatz, the largest ski resort in the region, the Messner Mountain Museum (MMM Corones) is embedded within Mount Kronplatz.

“Located at the top of Mount Kronplatz with its unique views of the Dolomites, MMM Corones is the final piece in my series of mountain museums. Dedicated to the great rock faces of the world, the museum will focus on the discipline of mountaineering,” explains Reinhold Messner.

Inaugurated in 2003, the Concordia 2000 Peace Bell was the first step in combining cultural facilities with the sporting and recreational amenities at Mount Kronplatz. The MMM Corones adds a further cultural and educational element to this popular Alpine destination.

A composition of fluid, interconnected volumes, the 1000 sq. m. MMM Corones design is carved within the mountain and informed by the geology and topography of its context. A sharp glass canopy, like a fragment of glacial ice, rises from the rock to mark and protect the museum’s entrance.

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Project Architect: Cornelius Schlotthauer
Design Team: Cornelius Schlotthauer Peter Irmscher
Execution Team: Peter Irmscher Markus Planteu Claudia Wulf
Structural Engineer: IPM
Mechanical Engineer + Fire Protection: Jud & Partner
Electrical Engineer: Studio GM

The post Messner Mountain Museum Corones
by Zaha Hadid Architects appeared first on Dezeen.

This cafe by Harris Butt Architecture is perched on the edge of an active volcano in New Zealand’s oldest national park (+ slideshow).

Also located beside a ski resort, Knoll Ridge Cafe is built to withstand sub-zero temperatures, wind speeds of up to 125 miles per hour and heavy snowfall in the winter season.

Despite its heavy-duty specification, the building had to be constructed from prefabricated modules light enough to be carried to the site and assembled by a helicopter.

The base of the building is a system of concrete panels, while the angled roofs and glass curtain walls are supported by a chunky timber frame.

Dining areas for up to 400 visitors occupy most of the ground floor level and spill out onto terraces that face down towards the foot of the mountain.

For more architecture featuring volcanos, see our earlier stories about an observation deck in Chile and the entrance to a volcano park in Spain.

See more projects from New Zealand »

Photography is by Simon Devitt.

Here’s some extra information from Harris Butt Architecture:

Knoll Ridge Cafe

Knoll Ridge Café is located at Whakapapa Ski Field on Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park. Situated on the side of a mountain the commercial ski field is also sited on what is New Zealand’s largest active volcano.

The café replaces the original Knoll Ridge Chalet which was destroyed by a fire in February 2009. As a result an ambitious design and build programme was initiated to replace the chalet with a temporary prefabricated facility for the 2009 winter season.

Once the debris of the original chalet were removed, a 220sqm temporary cafe was erected on the remaining floor slab. This tested the methodology which was later adopted for the construction of the café.

Rapidly changing weather is typical of the conditions encountered on New Zealand mountains, with Mt. Ruapehu no exception. Designing a building for such a severe environment provided its own set of unique challenges.

Limited road access to site and stringent requirements meant extensive planning and logistics were required just to get materials to site.

Prefabricated concrete floor panels had to be rapidly constructed and delivered before the snow melted, these were then hauled over snow 700m up to site before construction began the following summer.

A major consideration in the design of the building was the issue of the remote location. The entire building, from foundation beams/floor panels to roof sections and windows was broken down into a modular panelised system, which allowed for delivery, placement and erection by helicopter on site.

Insulated sandwich panels constructed of plywood and LVL form a large extent of the walls and roof of the café. These like most of the buildings components had to be designed with careful consideration not exceed the helicopters 800kg max load limit.

A 100% thermally broken purpose built glass curtain wall was designed for what is possibly one the most challenging environments to build in.

The glass and framing system had to withstand wind speeds of up to 200km/ph and temperatures well below freezing. Twenty-five tons of glass was used in the 415m2 of glass façade which was all predetermined and ordered from calculations without a site measure.

All the glass units were fitted with 3 equalizing tubes to facilitate onsite argon gas filling, equalizing tubes were also used as a precaution for rapid altitude acceleration during flight.

In the summer season the eastern face of the building can be seen set above the volcanic rock formations located on the edge of the drop off to the Te Heuheu Valley. The north face looks back down the mountain whilst to the west is the chair lift and ski area.

The form of the building reflects the strong geological features of the mountain. The “gull wing” roof was to appear to “cradle” the mountains peak. On a practical level is used to manage the snow. The building is designed to cover with up 3.0m of snow.

Timber has been used extensively inside and out to create the warm “feeling” of the “traditional” mountain chalet without adopting the traditional form.

The glass exterior (particularly to the east wall) is the other feature of the building – allowing full exposure to the magnificence view to the Pinnacle Ridge.

The new café is located approximately 50m down the mountain from the original chalet site, with the main café floor at approximately 2010m ASL.

The new building accommodates café seating for approx 400 people with servery, kitchen and support facilities all on one level.

At this same level, a deck area for approximately 200 people is provided.

The main public toilet area, staff facilities and storage are on the level below with separate access from the outside as well connection to the café via an internal stair.

Architects: Harris Butt Architecture Ltd.
Location: Whakapapa Ski Field, Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Architecture Team: Grant Harris, Ian Butt, Kerry Reyburn, Ben Brown
Completion: 2011
Building Size: 1,516 sqm

A history of exploration in the world’s most enigmatic range

One of the last remaining mysteries of the terrestrial world, the Transantarctic Mountains that abut the South Pole elicit the kind of exploratory giddiness typically reserved for 16th century seafarers. Scientist-explorer Edmund Stump has charted the courses of previous polar expeditions through this magnificent range, bringing to bear the trials of exploration from Clark Ross’ initial 1840 voyage to scientific missions of the late 20th century. The Roof at the Bottom of the World transports readers into a world of rock and ice, one filled with stark beauty, unforgiving conditions and the enthrall of virgin terrain.

Not to be confused with other mountain photography books, Stump’s work is for people with an earnest interest in geology and exploration. While including details culled from journals and ship logs, Stump keeps narrative considerations in mind as he effortlessly guides readers through the labyrinthine region. Super-imposed route lines decorate historic maps as well as Stump’s own images, giving readers insight into historic journeys such as the Discovery Expedition taken by explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton in 1901.

His rich prose adds dimension to the journeys he narrates. Describing the antarctic wind, Stump writes, “It is movement and sound, alternately relentless and fickle. When it stop s and the sun beams down from a cloudless sky, you can strip to bare skin and immediately feel the warmth. But let one puff of breeze disturb the thin layer of radiant air, and shivers will well up.” For those of us who lack the means to travel to the remotest regions of the earth, Stump’s account provides a vicarious substitute.

With a wealth of personal experience documenting the Transantarctic Mountains, Stump’s work is as much a reflection of his own desire to understand the region as the explorers who preceded him. He notes an attachment of the Gothic Mountains, deemed by 1930s explorer Stuart Paine the “most attractive of all spots the world over.” The dark granite peaks of this area make harsh reliefs to the uninterrupted canvas of the low-lying Scott glacier.

The Roof at the Bottom of the World offers an understanding of the rich texture that underlies the sweeping glaciers of the antarctic. and is available from Yale University Press through Amazon for $19.

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:

“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.

Each module is entirely prefabricated, from the outer protective shell to the interior fittings. All the modules were transported by helicopter thanks to their light weight and assembled on site in just a few hours.

The modules’ particular design means that they can be planned and constructed based on the specific requirements and can be customised depending on the location where they are to be positioned, in order to make them in keeping with the surrounding environment.

The modular structure is an ideal way to solve the specific requirements of any particular location and it allows for future expansion and the replacement of damaged parts over the life of the module.

The living area is lit in the daytime by a big panoramic window facing towards the valley and it contains a kitchen, a table and seating. The sleeping area is equipped with bunk beds and spaces for the storage of gear.

The comfortable wooden interior finish recalls a traditional mountain hut and is intended to make a stay in the LEAP module, a pleasing and relaxing experience.

Its integrated monitoring station provides instant information on the interior comfort and the out-door weather conditions and processes data which can be distributed via the Web. The total electrical requirements are provided by the photovoltaic panels integrated in the outer shell.

The exterior colours, easily recognisable at a distance, are an important reference point for mountaineers. The outer textural design is inspired by the shaved straight stitch of mountain pullovers to evoke warmth and comfort.

LEAP is a project that proposes a change in lifestyle as great as that promised by the Radical Architectural Utopias. In the sixties, the Archigram collective designed robotic self-moving “Walking Cities”. On more practical grounds they tried to produce “Living Pods” (such as the Cushicle or the Sutaloon), self-sufficient capsules for survival in hostile situations, these became also an inspiration for those aspiring to a non traditional lifestyle.

Also in development at LEAPfactory is a project studying disposal of human waste and other refuse, a problem which remains one of the greatest challenges for those who frequent the mountains and other places to be protected. The LEAP objective is focused on resolving those problems through the development of a module dedicated to the elimination of refuse for sensitive locations, like the high mountains and all such places, where it is difficult to dispose of it.

Credits

Architects: Luca Gentilcore / Gandolfi & Gentilcore, Stefano Testa / Cliostraat
Design Team: Edoardo Boero, Marilena Cambuli, Massimo Teghille

Structural engineering: Luca Olivari / Olivari Composite Engineering, Andrea Bruzzone
Electrical engineering: EDF-ENR spa, Carlo Sasso, Andrea Sasso, Giampaolo Pittatore, Enrico Pons
Brand Design: Massimo Teghille & Undesign
Other consultants: Alberto Morino (geologia), Federico Valfrè di Bonzo (nivologia e valanghe)

Owner: Italian Alpine Club CAI Turin
Promoted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the SUCAI Ski Mountaineering School

Cost: 250.000,00 € (Total budget)
Design phase: sept. 2009 – dec 2010
Construction phase: may 2011 – oct 20100
Realization: Poligamma, Biella (composite materials), GVM Arreda, Torino (interiors), Plat Andrea, Aosta (on site works)

Nuova Capanna Gervasutti numbers:
30 square metres of usable space
6 contact points with the ground
2500 kg total weight
12 bed spaces
2.5 Kwh of solar energy produced
2 day to install unit

A forest of timber columns and a stone fireplace feign a woodland campsite inside a visitor centre at the Rocky Mountains.

Completed by American architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson back in 2007, the Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Centre is located in a national park in the Teton Range.

A chunky concrete chimney surges up from the stone fireplace at the corner of the main gallery and through a jolting roof.

A zig-zagging glass wall around the hall provides visitors with a panoramic view out to the surrounding landscape.

Stone ledges line this wall to create a length of benches.

Other mountainside projects recently featured on Dezeen include a triangulated glass and steel restaurant in a remote gorge and a red-striped health centre in the Spanish Sierra de Gardor.

Photography is by Nic Lehoux, apart from where otherwise stated.

The following information was provided by the architects:

Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center
Grand Teton National Park

The realm of the Tetons is an extraordinary place in our western landscape. The tectonic uplift of the Tetons and the valley’s glacial past can be read easily. The building is placed at the edge of the riparian forest in a sagebrush meadow, enabling visitors to sense the meandering river and confront the great mountain range.

One is drawn around the edge of the building to a courtyard that all but occludes the Tetons. It is a calm, introspective place. A colonnade of massive tree trunks borders its perimeter to provide shade and shelter on three sides of the sunlit space.

Above: photograph by Edward Riddell

Visitors passing through the entrance vestibule are compressed before emerging into an expansive light-filled space. They stand in a grove of great columns that recall the primeval forest, confronted by the jagged spires and drama of the Tetons.

As a counterpoint to the tranquil court, the interior’s geometry is fractured. This seemingly haphazard arrangement of logs choreographs the movement of people through uplifted forms that house interpretive exhibits.

A rugged fireplace is at the building’s psychological and physical heart. Stone outcroppings form sitting ledges and the base for timber-formed concrete planks stacked to make the chimney, a vertical marker in the landscape.

Choreography and emotionally laden materials connect people viscerally to the Teton landscape. This is a building that is sensibly ordered and surprisingly evocative, shaped to the nature of the land and the people who visit it.

Location: Grand Teton National Park in Moose, Wyoming
Dates: 2001 – 2007
Building Area: 23,000 gross square feet
Principal for Design: Peter Q. Bohlin, FAIA
Project Manager: Raymond S. Calabro AIA, Principal
Project Architect: David Miller
Project Team: Mark Adams, Zeke Busch, Christian Evans, Michelle Evans, Michael Maiese, Jessica O’Brien, Daniel Ralls
Client: National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Grand Teton Association
Project Consultants: Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Beaudette Consulting Engineers, GPD, P.C., Renfro Design Group, Inc., Swift Company LLC, The Greenbusch Group Inc., Davis Langdon, Nelson Engineering, Matrix IMA
Jack Soeffing
General Contractor: Intermountain Construction Inc.
Photographers: Nic Lehous, Florence McCall, Edward Riddell

See also:

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Outlandia by Malcolm Fraser	Campground by Julien Boidot	6×11 Alpine Hut by OFIS Arhitekti