A former customs hut reimagined
Perched at 2,650 meters in the Kaunertal valley, The Cabina Montagna is a modest yet resilient architectural intervention. Originally a stone-built customs hut of uncertain history, the structure once served Austrian tax officers awaiting smugglers in the alpine terrain. Rather than dwelling on nostalgia or narrative, the new design embraces the site’s raw character and altitude with unpretentious clarity.
Precision in a minimal footprint
He und Du were tasked with a subtle but complex challenge: designing an extension with surgical precision. Constrained by the existing outline and built in a remote location, the addition responds not with grand gestures but through thoughtful compactness. The result respects the stone base while creating new spatial potential above it. This approach turns limitations—like topography and scale—into assets.
Built for the extreme
The site’s extreme conditions called for a resourceful architectural strategy. Materials had to be light, transportable, and robust enough for alpine weather, all while preserving the character of the original hut. Prefabrication likely played a role in achieving this balance. The new volume rises modestly from the stone base, its presence quiet but intentional against the mountain backdrop.
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