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A bivouac dedicated to Stefano Berrone hidden among the peaks of the Upper Susa Valley
In some ways, Pinwheel Shelter resembles an origami model; in others, a small timber and aluminum hut with a pitched roof that blends into its mountain setting. Designed by Andrea Cassi and Michele Versaci’s EX studio and named in memory of Stefano Berrone, the bivouac is located at almost three thousand meters above sea level in the Upper Susa Valley. Its design began with an in-depth study of the exposure and wind direction of its site at the bottom of the Vallonetto slopes. This resulted in its faceted, origami-like shape, which establishes an ongoing dialogue with the surrounding mountains, the morphology of the location, and the weather. Besides its function of providing shelter for mountaineers and hikers, this prefabricated and reversible timber structure also has a research function: that is, to investigate the relationship between a built object and the natural environment, its impact over time, and its interaction with the weather. The architects therefore designed the structure in terms of three key principles: reversibility and lightness, architecture and landscape, and the creation of a meeting place.
Located in the Seguret Valley between the municipalities of Oulx and Bardonecchia, Pinwheel Shelter has the extremely important function of providing shelter for people using the area’s high mountain trails, especially given the frequent and sudden weather changes here. It also plays the key role of providing an intermediate stop for reducing the distance between the other bivouacs in the Oulx and Bardonecchia Valleys, and for crossing the Ambin Massif. Finally, its presence creates an alternative route between Val Fredda and Seguret Valley, which is shorter than the current one between Rochemolles and the Sigot Bivouac.
As mentioned, Andrea Cassi and Michele Versaci, who also designed Corradini Bivouac, followed three key principles in this project. The first was the reversibility and lightness of the structure, which has minimal impact on the environment. The structural shell therefore uses CLT panels and rests on a steel base. Its dry construction system meant that it was assembled in just a few days and can be dismantled just as quickly.
These elements alone point to how the architects were guided by nature and the surrounding mountains. Not surprisingly, there are views of the landscape from every part of the bivouac, thanks to four triangular openings. The architects took the same “gentle” approach when designing the aluminum envelope, which interacts with the light and colors of the mountain location and reflects the snow-capped peaks.
Pinwheel Shelter is not just a mountain refuge, but also a place for meeting and socializing. For this reason, the interior is organized radially, with the beds around a central space like a kind of hearth. A peculiarity of this shelter is its minimal height. In fact, hikers need to bend down to enter and then remain seated or on their knees. The layout has made it possible to accommodate ten beds with a minimal footprint and, in particular, a minimal height. The highest point – that is, the top of the roof – is just 2.80 meters, ensuring that the structure integrates, and even disappears, into its setting.
In collaboration with his family and his ABC hospitality group, Pinwheel Shelter was named in memory of Stefano Berrone, a 40-year-old businessman and mountaineering enthusiast who lost his life in 2022 while paragliding on the slopes of Val Chisone. He was very well known in the valley as the manager of several ABC group properties, including the famous Mollino ski chalet.
Location: Vallone del Seguret, Italy
Architects: EX.
Completion: 2023
Photography by Tomaso Clavarino, courtesy of EX.
