Carlo Ratti’s digitally fabricated Alpine bivouac ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics – Visuals by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati.
Architecture. Circularity guides the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games, shaping many of their architectural initiatives. The Alpine bivouac by Carlo Ratti Associati and Salone del Mobile follows this approach with a simple two-stage life. It will first appear in Milan as a temporary pavilion for the Games. Afterwards, the structure will be airlifted by helicopter to a permanent high-altitude site. There, it will serve as a lasting refuge for climbers and trekkers, linking urban culture and mountain heritage.
- RELATED STORIES: Read more about Milano-Cortina 2026 on Archipanic.
“Unfortunately, today bivouacs often look like airships that have landed on our beautiful alpine landscapes,” explains the studio co-founder Carlo Ratti. “Here we took the opposite approach: a structure that blends as much as possible with the surroundings.”
To achieve this, the team scanned local rock formations to create an accurate 3D terrain model. This data shaped the Alpine bivouac’s faceted geometry, which references crystalline Alpine landscapes. Its shell uses cross-laminated timber, aerogel insulation, and metal components to ensure durability and high performance at high altitudes.
Self-sufficiency plays a key role in the shelter’s functionality. A 5 kW-peak photovoltaic system with battery storage provides all the necessary power, including network access. With no natural water supply available, an air-condensation system produces several litres of drinking water each day. This ensures continuous access to clean water, even during emergencies.
The external appearance avoids the bright colours often used for visibility. Instead, the Alpine bivouac settles quietly into its surroundings, reducing its visual impact. A red safety light activates only during low visibility, improving orientation while preserving landscape integrity.
“Great 20th-century Italian architect Gio Ponti once said that architecture is like a crystal,” adds Ratti, who is also a professor at MIT and the Politecnico di Milano, and director of the Biennale Architettura 2025. “We took that literally in this design, using digital fabrication to design a bivouac as if it were part of the natural rock formations that shape the Alps.“
Architecture gains relevance when it responds to multiple contexts with clarity and purpose. This project shows how adaptable structures can support communities while respecting the environments they inhabit.
All visuals are by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati.
