Cuboidal Mountain Hut Atelier 8000
Sometimes, in architecture, even going back to the very basics could turn out to be amazing. Czech Firm Atelier 8000 has designed a cuboidal Mountain Hut for Slovakia’s High Tatras as part of the Kežmarská Chata (Kežmarská Hut) international competition. Although my first reaction was to say that placing a cube on its vertices is not only ordinary, but lately is very popular, I was quickly charmed by their proposal.
photography by © Jan Cyrany, Courtesy of A8000
“Thanks to the positioning of the construction, three sides of the facade are visible from any viewing point, which amplifies the play of light and shadows – the same effect which can be observed on the neighboring rocks,” described Atelier 8000. “The glass surfaces of windows and photovoltaic panels along with the light transparency of the metal plating complete the whole picture of the site with a touch of glimmer – just like the glints and reflections which can be observed on the surface of a mountain lake or on thawing ice.”
There are many elements used to soften the rigid exterior with its sharp edges. First of all, the modularity in the façades, which are made from 1×1 meter modules, to ease transportation and assembly. The modules are also solar panels, which maximize the hut’s potential as a passive building, when it comes to energy generation and consumption. In addition, in plan there are waste-water treatment plant, rainwater collection, heat recovery, solar collectors, and a generator that runs using “bio fuel.”
photography by © Jan Cyrany, Courtesy of A8000
Returning to aesthetics, the construction’s tough exterior is counterbalanced by the interior shape and materials. The building is with glued laminated timber beams made from larch wood, and the interior preserves the wood texture, from the walls to the furniture.
The Hut contains three main floors, plus a basement and attic. It hosts a snowmobile garage, staff entrance, ski storage, drying room and restrooms. The restaurant and deck are placed at ground floor, and the sleeping and recovery areas are located in the upper floors.
photography by © Jan Cyrany, Courtesy of A8000
Architects: Atelier 8000
Renderings: Jan Cyrany
By:Lidia Ratoi
Lidia Ratoi is a Romanian architect, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture. With a background in both architectural design and theory, her work explores the intersections of technology, media, and politics in the built environment. Ratoi’s research focuses on the aesthetics of power, surveillance, and virtuality, with a strong interest in critical and speculative design. She has practiced internationally and exhibited in venues across Europe and Asia. Passionate about challenging conventional narratives, Ratoi integrates digital tools with philosophical inquiry, encouraging experimental approaches to architecture. Her contributions continue to shape emerging discourses in design and architectural pedagogy.