At the foot of the highest pinnacle of the Alps in Switzerland, the Dufourspitze, opposite the country's most famous mountain, the Matterhorn, surrounded by glaciers, rocks and snow–this is where Andrea Deplazes wants to demonstrate ETH's expertise as regards urbanity. Urbanity, up here in the Alps? The professor of architecture confirms that he wants to use this project to build a hut on Monte Rosa to promote his students' awareness for the technical and cultural performances of the cities. "The lack of any sort of infrastructure makes the urbanity of this project evident."

Although visitors to this region come to experience nature, they also bring their increasing expectations of comfortable accommodation with them, explains Deplazes. "The architecture should reflect this tension, between nature and culture." But this is not the only challenge. The presence of Matterhorn–this Swiss icon par excellence–loaded with clichés cannot be ignored either. A further issue is that of traditional versus modern styles of construction and design. Today, for instance, helicopters are used to bring up the preferred, lighter materials and constructional elements to build new huts, whereas usually, in former times, stones from the vicinity were used. In addition, today's requirements aimed at sustainability stood in contrast to the trend for ever shorter, instant tourist gratification. "It interests and stimulates me to find a way of displaying a synthesis of the whole here. Especially because, as an architect, one is obliged to find practical solutions and not just theoretical answers," says the ETH professor.

Tower or container park?

This plethora of requirements convinced Andrea Deplazes that the Monte Rosa project, for the upcoming 150-year Jubilee, was an ideal way of showing the outside world just what the ETH Department of Architecture was capable of. After the steering committee under the head of the Jubilee programme, Meinrad Eberle, had raised the idea of a new alpine shelter, Andrea Deplazes' idea met with the interest of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). The "Monte Rosa Studio" was already set up in the Department of Architecture last year (1). This was a novelty in itself, giving students, as it did, the chance to participate in a project destined to be realised. The studio was quickly filled to capacity and just a year later, twelve designs were put forward (2). These designs range from an eight-storey tower, via a gradated building that fits snugly into the incline, to a collection of containers, which offers an entire infrastructure in a modular mountain shelter.

This summer, the people responsible for the project decided to concentrate further work at the Monte Rosa Studio on one, or perhaps two, of the proposed designs. At the moment the favourite is a project that foresees a slim, four-storey wooden building with a protruding panorama restaurant.

The design most likely to be used for a new Monte Rosa hut: a four-storey building with a protruding panorama restaurant. (Picture: Studio Monte Rosa) large

For the new students in Studio Monte Rosa it is now a question of planning the actual construction over the next two semesters. Which material is to be used where, how to ensure the running of a 150-bed alpine shelter, where electricity and water will come from–these are only some of the challenges they are facing. If all goes according to plan, the foundation stone could be laid next autumn. Deplazes would welcome participation from members of other departments in this "concretisation" phase. For example, he says that environmental scientists could be of great help in finding a solution for the sewage, because decomposition doesn't happen in this climate. Or investigations could be carried on the atmospheric conditions.

Safe in Japan, in Valais still uncertain

So how great is the chance that such a shelter will be built? "Good," says Andrea Deplazes. Because, following the phase in July, when the jury was unable to reach a decision owing to cost factors, enlightening talks were held with the SAC and local authorities with the result that work can now proceed according to the chosen design. Deplazes would be disappointed were the SAC to withdraw the 2.4 million Swiss francs, which it has budgeted for the Monte Rosa hut. Especially in view of the fact that the chance to build a hut with the help of planning and financial resources to the tune of around a half a million francs from ETH would not occur again in the near future. Asked whether a striking design would also attract tourists from the architectural community Deplazes says: "Naturally, that is not the primary aim, but the value and importance of tourist destinations certainly gains from such projects."

Should the realisation of the Monte Rosa project from ETH fail for lack of support owing to divergent notions of Canton Valais, interested parties can, nonetheless, form their own opinion of the students' work. They won't have to go to Valais to do this either, but to Japan. There–and this is certain–visitors to the World Exhibition 2005 in Aichi will be able to admire projections from the Monte Rosa Studio at the end of a tour of the Swiss pavilion (3).