Starthaus revolution: this is what awaits the speed stars in Zermatt

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

From Stuttgart train station to Toranomon Hills in Tokyo to Marina One in Singapore: the architectural firm Ingenhoven Associates has created impressive buildings all over the world and has received numerous awards for this. The top priority of the architects from Düsseldorf: “super green”, i.e. sustainable construction at all levels. And what sustainability means is continuous thinking ahead.

Now the experts of the BKW network have focused on a smaller but no less challenging project: the starting house for the new World Cup competitions in Zermatt USA.

Ultra-modern primitive cabin

“When designing the building, we had in mind what has defined architecture for the past 50,000 years: protection from the elements,” says general manager Martin Reuter. A kind of ‘original hut’ was created. The idea is to properly protect the athletes in their thin suits, so that they can be sent on their journey with as much concentration as possible.

It was and is of fundamental importance for the employees of Ingenhoven to leave as few permanent traces as possible on the mountain so as not to damage the Theodul Glacier. The specialists for innovations and difficult cases wanted to create something that people can take with them again – such as exemplary hikers carrying the picnic waste back into the valley.

The extreme weather conditions with sun, wind, snow and storm require respect. The men’s races start at 3,720 meters and the women’s races at 3,485 meters. Temperatures there can drop to -20 degrees.

There is something else important for the employees of Ingenhoven: “Our projects must be able to do more than just offer the benefits that the customer directly requested,” says Martin Reuter. «We keep thinking: can we give something back? Can we do more and, for example, not only save energy, but also produce energy with the buildings? Can a building also have a positive footprint? We always try to make the best of it.”

Given all these requirements and ambitions, the starter house was “quite a challenge” for the architects. “We puzzled for a few days to find the solution as it now looks on paper and as it is built.”

The solution in question is a pneumatic, that is, inflatable and therefore lightweight house made of a petroleum-free shell that can be quickly assembled and dismantled. “For a temporary building, this is a huge advantage,” says Peter Pistorius, head of the special model construction department at Ingenhoven Associates. The starting house is inflated like an inflatable boat with a compressor. It is secured with 22 screws that are screwed 1.60 meters deep into the glacier ice, but are removed again during disassembly.

The icon of a starting house

The Zermatt Starthaus is inspired by igloos, which nestle in the environment and can withstand extreme weather conditions. The design therefore had to be curved; a challenge, especially when it comes to integrating solar cells. The problem was solved by attaching the photovoltaic panels individually to the shell as mats. They are removed again for disassembly so that the cover can be folded up.

The color of the igloo was also the source of inspiration. “We opted for a light, silver color so as not to create too high a contrast to the landscape, which consists of snow and ice,” Pistorius said.

“It is the icon of a starting house,” says Christian Ziörjen, CEO of the Matterhorn Cervino Speed ​​Opening, which organizes the ski races. Initially there was actually a wooden chalet in the room. “But then we found out that BKW would be our sustainability partner. And BKW Engineering came up with the idea of ​​realizing this innovative starter home together with partners. Because we also attach great importance to innovation, we didn’t have to think long and opted for this solution.”

He also thought it was cool: “The others did most of the work, I only had to make one or two decisions.” The big advantage of an approach that offers solutions from a single source.

Source : Blick