For an international competition aimed at the design of a lodge located in the high tatra mountains of Slovakia, atelier 8000 has proposed a cube volume rotated onto one of its corners. Known as “kežmarské hut”, the structure is intended to be a sustainable dwelling for high terrain adventurers during all seasons of the year, able to perform autonomously in regards to energy usage.
The formal strategy is aimed at producing visual lightness, and prompting a feeling of disorientation within the viewer. Having seemingly fallen from the sky, the building is reminiscent of a boulder resting among the landscape, with crisp edges and a high peak which relate to the surrounding mountains.
The cube’s facades are subdivided into square panels of reflective materials, including predominantly aluminum as well as sections of glass and photovoltaics. From any given viewpoint, three of the form’s faces are visible, thus providing a legible reading due to distinct light/shadow tones. An elevated patio wraps two sides of the building to provide an outdoor dining and relaxation area for mild temperatures.
