Snøhetta announces Refuge de Barroude

Nestling in a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, the project to rebuild the Barroude mountain refuge follows the accidental fire that destroyed the old refuge ten years ago. The building will provide a new stop-off point for hikers on the Haute Route des Pyrénées, as well as a new reception and support centre for National Park staff.

Designed in a sober and yet modern way to preserve the fauna and flora of the Pyrenees national Park, the new refuge will welcome hikers while limiting the building's environmental footprint on the Cirque de Barroude natural site.

The general layout is based around two main functional areas. On the one hand, a set of areas open to the public, including the reception areas, dining room, toilets and dormitories, and on the other, a set of private areas reserved for the refuge warden and the staff of the Pyrenees national Park.

A balance between integration and visibility

The concept for the new Barroude refuge is based on the desire to provide a safe haven for hikers while preserving the integrity and majesty of its natural surroundings. In this grandiose setting, where the human presence must remain humble, the project’s concept strikes a delicate balance between integration and visibility.

This conceptual approach is based on two key words, the Terrier and the Cairn.

The first evokes integration, warmth and security. The second a destination, a landmark built from the natural elements of the mountains.

These two words come together and complement each other in an architecture that appears to curl up in the thicknesses of the topography and landscape, but whose materiality of stone, wood and aluminium provides a contrast that signals a protective haven in the heart of the Pyrenean peaks.

Adapted to its surrounding

Situated on the site of the former refuge, the building is located outside the zones where the endemic flora and fauna are protected. The position was carefully chosen to take advantage of the existing topography, enabling two levels of refuge to be created without the need for excessive earthworks.

With its bioclimatic architectural design, the refuge is a compact structure that minimises the amount of facade exposed to the elements and blends perfectly into the landscape of the Barroude cirque. The building's dual orientation also encourages natural ventilation.

The refuge is characterised by its large planted roof, which follows the lines of the landscape, and its protective envelope made of recycled aluminium, which shelters the outside spaces from the prevailing winds.

Shared spaces

The layout of the refuge is organised into two main areas: the living spaces, open onto the cirque surroundings and Lake Barroude, and the bedrooms, positioned to the north, facing the ridge. This layout makes it possible to manage the degree of privacy of the site, with a progression from the most open, the communal areas such as the the dining hall and kitchen, to the most protected, the dormitories for hikers and wardens.

The dormitories at the Barroude refuge offer several types of accommodation. The winter dormitory, on the lower ground floor with direct access from outside, is exclusively for hikers and Park staff spending the night at the refuge.

For hikers, there are 8- and 6-person dormitories, as well as 8-person dormitories adapted for winter use, each offering compact but cosy accommodation.

In addition to the hikers' dormitories, the refuge has rooms for the warden, his assistants and Park maintenance staff.

The design of the interior spaces encourages ‘living together’ by offering a friendly, light-filled environment with views of the wider landscape.

A reduced footprint

The shelter's shell and structure are made of recycled wood and aluminium respectively. The aim is not only to promote the use of low-carbon materials, but also to maximise the prefabrication of the structure, thereby reducing the weight, on-site installation and helicopter rotations required to transport the materials.

On-site earthworks and concrete foundations are also kept to a minimum, as the structure ‘skims’ the existing ground. Not only does this mean that the structure can be fully reversed and optimally integrated into the environment, it also means that the construction period can be reduced to two seasons.

Local stone is planned for the base, ensuring perfect integration into the mountainous context and preserving the authenticity of the landscape. The choice of local stone also strengthens the link with the region and helps to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting materials.

The shape of the refuge is inspired by the natural contours and topography of the surrounding area. The planted roof provides an extension of the flora and fauna, while creating a fluid transition between the architecture and the mountain landscape, where the lines of the refuge merge with the natural relief, reinforcing the feeling of unity with nature.

The compactness of the building is also a key factor in reducing its carbon footprint. By limiting the building’s physical footprint, the refuge minimises energy consumption for heating and cooling, while preserving the surrounding natural environment.

Efficient energy management is also built into the design. Solar and biomass heating and hot water systems are installed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimise greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the use of photovoltaic panels to produce renewable electricity helps to reduce the refuge's carbon footprint.

Drinking water is supplied by a tank storing water from a nearby spring, and waste water is treated by infiltration, with no impact on the environment.

The next phases of the project will begin in 2025.

Dates: 2024—2027
​Disciplines: Architecture, landscape & Interior
​Localisation: Parc national des Pyrénées, France
​Typology: Refuge
​Size: 540 m2 ​
​Status: Competition won in May 2024
​Client: Parc national des Pyrénées
​Mechanical engineer: Energeco
​Structural engineer and Façade consultant: Bollinger + Grohmann
​Cost estimation: Vernet Eco
​Civil engineer: Prima Ingénierie

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