Alpine Shelter Skuta
OFIS arhitekti + AKT II +
Harvard GSD Students
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*In Slovenia and the highest peak of
the Julian Alps. The mountain is the preeminent symbol of the Slovene Nation. It
is the centerpiece of the Triglav National
Park, Slovenia's only national park.
Architects: OFIS Architects, AKT II, Harvard GSD Students
Location: Skuta, 4206 Zgornje Jezersko, Slovenia
Architects in Charge: Rok Oman, OFIS architects; Spela Videcnik, OFIS architects
Harvard GSD Student Design Team: Frederick Kim, Katie MacDonald, Erin Pellegrino
OFIS Architects Project Team: Andrej Gregoric. Janez Martincic. Maria Della Mea, Vincenzo Roma, Andrea Capretti, Jade Manbodh, Sam Eadington
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Anze Cokl, Courtesy of OFIS Architects, Andrej Gregoric, Janez Martincic
Client: PD Ljubljana Matica
The project developed from an
architectural design studio at the Harvard
Graduate School of Design led by Rok
Oman and Spela Videcnik from OFIS. In
fall 2014, studios of thirteen students
were facing the challenges of designing
an innovative yet practical shelter to
meet the needs of the extreme alpine
climate. Inspired by the vernacular
architecture of Slovenia with its rich
and diverse architectural heritage, the
students produced twelve proposals
meeting various site conditions, material
considerations, and programmatic
concerns were produced and catalogued.
The extreme climatic condition s in the
mountains introduce a design challenge
for architects, engineers and designers.
Within a context of extreme risk to
environmental forces, it is important
to design buildings that can withstand
extreme weather, radical temperature
shifts, and rugged terrain. Responding
to environmental conditions is not only
a protective measure, but also translates
into a matter of immediate life safety.
The harsh conditions of wind, snow,
landslides, terrain, and weather require a
response of specific architectural forms
and conceptual designs.