The Shelter Santnerpass
The new Santnerpass mountain shelter is located below the “Rosengarten” peak (2,981m) on the mountain massif “Rosengarten “ in the western Dolomites of South Tyrol at an altitude of 2,734m. Situated directly at the “Laurinswand”, which steeply descends to the “Tiersertal” to the west, the shelter is situated at the so-called “Santnerpass”. Built in the 1950s, it has now been reconstructed in the years 2021 to 2023.
Similar to a house of cards, with statically supporting and protecting steep roof surfaces, the building stands at this prominent location. The archaic triangle shape in the high alpine environment has evolved from pragmatic considerations of structural stability and weather protection, distinguishes itself from arbitrary architectural design. The compact arrangement of sleeping chambers on the upper floors resulted in the narrow axis of the triangular wooden framework construction spanning the ground floor guest parlour.
The galvanised sheet metal of the shell changes colour from orange to yellow at sunset, just like the rock. The next morning the shelter reflects the hues of the blue sky. The shelter tries to be part of the landscape - taking on its mood. Hopefully the house will be accepted by the mountains.
