CRA Shelter Project Explores Circular Design and Its Connection to the Alpine Environment
An Architectural Experiment in the Heart of the Alps
CRA–Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with the Salone del Mobile.Milano, unveiled a new architectural project specifically designed for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This project is based on the creation of a self-sufficient wooden shelter, digitally fabricated, aiming to rethink the relationship between humans and nature.
From the City to the Mountains
The structure begins as a temporary urban pavilion in Milan. After its initial role, it is transported by helicopter to the Italian Alps, where it transforms into a permanent refuge for adventurers and climbers. This transitional concept emphasizes a vision based on continuous use rather than demolition or waste.
Nature-Inspired Design
The pavilion follows a philosophy that seeks harmony with the environment instead of imposing an architectural presence upon it. To achieve this, the design process started with a 3D survey of rock formations in the Alps, aiming to capture their raw geometry and draw inspiration from their fundamental lines.
An Organic Structure with a Mountain Spirit
Every corner and curve of the shelter reflects the crystalline formations of the surrounding peaks. As a result, the structure appears as if it has grown from the rock itself, maintaining a sculptural presence that blends modern technology with the imprint of nature.
Building Materials that Merge Technology and Tradition
The pavilion was constructed using cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, a material known for its strength and lightness compared to traditional buildings. To enhance thermal and structural performance, these layers were combined with aerogel insulation and metal reinforcements, creating a clear balance between traditional craftsmanship and the precision offered by modern digital engineering.
A Self-Sufficient Energy System
Given the isolated mountain location, the structure relies on a 5 kW photovoltaic system to generate electricity, along with an energy storage unit that allows it to operate entirely off-grid. It also incorporates an air condensation and moisture extraction mechanism to provide daily drinking water without external sources, fully reinforcing its independence.
Visual Harmony with the Mountain Environment
The design breaks away from the stereotypical image of brightly colored mountain shelters. Instead, a visual approach was chosen to blend with the natural landscape. The wooden panels are left exposed to interact with weathering, gradually changing their colors in harmony with the surrounding rocks and vegetation.
Calculated Lighting to Preserve the Landscape
Despite the simplicity of its exterior form, the pavilion includes a subtle red light beacon that operates only in foggy conditions or low visibility, ensuring visitor safety without disturbing the serenity of the mountain scene.
An Interior Experience Overlooking Nature
Inside, a panoramic glass wall offers an unobstructed view of the Alps, transforming the small space into a serene observation point. In this way, the pavilion becomes not just a shelter but a space for contemplation and interior design experience and direct connection with the surrounding environment.
A Model for Circular Design
This shelter goes beyond being a mere architectural form to embody the philosophy of circular design. It is a structure capable of adapting, relocating, and enduring. It functions in an urban context as a temporary pavilion and later moves to a mountainous environment to serve a completely different purpose. This transformation reveals a flexible design model that minimizes waste and allows practical reuse.
Part of a Larger System in the 2026 Olympics
The pavilion does not exist in isolation from the other projects of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics; rather, it is part of CRA’s broader efforts, which also include the design of the Olympic torch, characterized by a minimalist aesthetic focusing on essential elements. The 2026 Games are among the most geographically diverse, spanning multiple regions and relying heavily on existing and recycled infrastructure. In this context, the shelter aligns with the overall event’s goal of reducing environmental impact.
A Balanced Relationship Between Architecture and Nature
CRA’s shelter stands as a symbol of an advanced dialogue between engineering innovation and the natural environment. It is not merely a place for accommodation, but a structure that interacts with its surroundings through resource collection and adaptation to local conditions. In a world seeking solutions that merge technology and sustainability, this project exemplifies how a building can exist in nature without dominating it, becoming instead a serene extension of the Alps.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
Although the shelter project offers a striking architectural experiment in exploring circular design and repurposing elements across different contexts, its implementation raises a series of questions regarding the feasibility of generalizing this model to larger-scale projects. For instance, relying on aerial transport to relocate the structure sparks a discussion about the actual environmental viability compared to the carbon footprint of the transport itself, in addition to the limited capacity of this type of shelter to meet user needs in environments more diverse than the mountainous landscape.
Moreover, the integration of insulation technologies and self-sufficient energy systems demonstrates progress in sustainable thinking, yet it remains confined to an experimental framework that is difficult to apply on a large urban scale without high costs or specific environmental conditions.
Nevertheless, the project can be regarded as an opportunity to study how small structures can rely on their own resources, and how architects might draw inspiration from this approach for more practical applications in public buildings and low-energy housing. In this sense, the project serves more as a platform for discussion about the boundaries of architectural innovation and ways to leverage it, rather than as a ready-to-deploy model.
