Olpererhütte, Ginzling

For more than a hundred years a shelter had been standing at this exposed location high above the “Schlegeisspeicher” reservoir, opposite it the glaciers and the mountain tops of the Zillertal Alps. Since refurbishment of the old building was impossible, in 2005 the decision was made to build a new one. Our company principle of “innovation through reduction” is never more so reflected, than in this project.

»The only indulgence is a gigantic panoramic window overlooking the valley. That is, after all why people come up here.«

Best of Austria 2009

Construction at great heights did, and still does, depend on the availability of transportation. The old hut was made of stones from the surrounding area. The transport of large quantities of construction material from the valley was not feasible in those days and the labour-intensive stone masonry was cheaper. Modern means of transportation, such as helicopters, have changed things. Prefabricated construction materials, together with the new possibilities provided by glue-laminated timber, allow for easy transport and furthermore they can be quickly assembled, which is an important aspect in high altitude construction. In addition, the physical qualities of timber allow for direct and optimal ecological construction. The glue-laminated timber panels have both load-bearing and insulation properties. Extra insulation, because the hut is only open in the summer, was not required. This pure timber structure without insulation materials, cladding etc. can, plainly speaking, just rot up there. Due to the harsh weather conditions, the shingled outer surfaces in a few years with weather and the timber will have entered into dialog with the surrounding world of stone.

The hut has been deliberately been designed as a refuge and not as a hotel. It is a summer hut; the comfort is equal to the expectations for such a location. The entrance and bedrooms are unheated. The building utilities are limited to a minimum. A tiled stove and the waste heat of the photovoltaic and canola oil powered CHP used for water purification; both supply the building with heat.