A mountain shelter that appears carved from stone—but is born from a 3D scan of alpine rock formations and advanced digital fabrication. This is the concept behind the new bivouac designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Salone del Mobile.Milano, created to celebrate the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
Initially unveiled as an urban pavilion, the structure will later be transported by helicopter to high altitude, where it will become a permanent shelter for climbers and hikers.
Architecture that Disappears into the Landscape
The structure—made of cross-laminated timber (CLT), aerogel, and metal—is inspired by the crystalline geometry of alpine peaks, favoring natural camouflage over bright colors traditionally used in mountain architecture. Only in cases of fog or severe weather does a red emergency light activate, ensuring safety without compromising the visual integrity of the landscape.
Energy, Water, and Digital Connectivity
The bivouac is fully self-sufficient: a 5kW photovoltaic system with storage provides all the energy required, including internet connectivity. In the absence of natural water sources, an innovative air condensation system collects several liters of drinking water daily, offering a vital resource even in remote emergency conditions.
A Place for Reflection, Not Just Shelter
More than a shelter, the bivouac is conceived as a space for contemplation and communion with nature. A large panoramic window frames the surrounding alpine landscape, inviting stillness and observation. The project embraces principles of circular design, with a dual function: first as a temporary installation during the Games, later as a permanent structure in the mountains.
A Dialogue Between Artificial and Natural
"Too often today’s bivouacs resemble spacecraft that have landed on our mountains. Here, we’ve taken the opposite approach: a structure that blends as much as possible into its environment," says Carlo Ratti, co-founder of CRA and curator of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. "The great architect Gio Ponti once said architecture is like a crystal—we’ve taken that literally, imagining a bivouac as part of the alpine morphology".
For Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, the project "represents a vision of design as a gesture that unites landscape, innovation, and respect. An architecture that doesn’t impose itself, but listens and responds to the natural world, turning research into harmony".
With this work, CRA continues its exploration of the dialogue between nature and technology, also pursued in projects like the Essential | Olympic and Paralympic Torches for Milano Cortina 2026 and the AquaPraça pavilion for COP30 in Venice. A minimal, high-altitude architecture staging a new equilibrium between innovation and the landscape.
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