On the way to the Monte Rosa hut near Zermatt

For architecture-loving mountain enthusiasts, a visit to the Monte Rosa hut near Zermatt is at the top of the list. A new access route over the glacier has now also been built.

To say it straight away: because of the longer glacier passage, it is still advisable to take crampons and rope, and preferably a mountain guide too. But there is no comparison with the old hut trail, which, despite ladders and chains, became increasingly difficult due to the melting Gorner glacier and also had to be constantly repaired. In contrast, the new “Panoramaweg” now leads much higher up over the mountain flanks with magnificent views. It is well marked and secured where it gets dicey.

Like many mountain lodges, the Monte Rosa hut has a history stretching back over a hundred years. Formerly known as the Bétemps hut and located at a lower altitude, the old stone building from 1895 was rebuilt several times. One of the reasons for a new building was the 150th anniversary celebrations of ETH Zurich, which selected this project as one of 50 anniversary projects. Today, the new hut is a work of the 21st century: five storeys high, built on an irregular octagonal base, it was completed by ETH Studio Monte Rosa and Bearth & Deplazes Architects in 2009. The people from ETH and the Swiss Alpine Club developed the concept together over a period of six years. The aim was to test new technologies in design, calculation and production in the high mountains. The energy and building technology, for example, is designed to function as self-sufficiently as possible: with a ventilation system and heat recovery, water tank and mini sewage treatment plant for cleaning waste water as well as photovoltaics for electricity; heat is provided by solar collectors and there is also a mini combined heat and power plant powered by rapeseed oil for bad weather.

However, the building is particularly worth seeing because of its architectural design in the shape of a rock crystal. In order to keep the CO2 footprint during construction within limits, the decision was made to mainly use the lighter building materials wood and aluminum, as everything had to be delivered by helicopter. The primary construction consists of prefabricated frame elements that are open on the room side, while the shell was insulated with 35 centimetres of mineral fiber and fitted with a rear-ventilated aluminum standing seam roof.
Despite the bunk beds, the accommodation is comfortable compared to some other huts: there are new, soft mattresses, coin-operated hot showers and toilets inside the building, as well as triple glazing so that you can enjoy the view of the Gorner Glacier and Matterhorn in the distance with your nose close to the window without freezing. The striking ribbon of windows that wraps around the façade illuminates the polygonal living room and the staircase to the sleeping areas. The construction remains clearly visible, especially in the living room: Here, the thick timber trusses are very reassuring to guests when a storm is brewing outside and the wind is whistling around the corners. Not only the construction parts, but also the wooden tables and benches were precisely fitted using CNC-manufactured components, as were the bunk beds and shelves in the bedrooms. This saved money, as the window of opportunity for good weather between May and September 2009 had to be used optimally.
The planning of the hut at 2,883 meters was accompanied by 33 students from several semesters of the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich over a period of six years – and they certainly learned a lot about construction, shell and supply in extreme conditions.

You can find the article about the Monte Rosa hut near Zermatt in our current Baumeister issue 02/2019.