Orny Hut, inaugurated in 1877 as a small stone shelter for 10 people and refurbished in 1977 to offer its current 89 beds, is set to be fully renovated and expanded to better accommodate the growing influx of visitors. Located in the heart of a premier climbing and mountaineering destination and benefiting from good accessibility, it is a popular attraction for both seasoned alpinists and casual hikers alike.
The Atlas project, ranked second in the competition and developed by Madeleine architectes and LÜCHINGER MEYER PARTNER, preserves the hut’s historic location on its rocky base. The characteristic triangular silhouette is maintained and reinforced by raising the timber structure through the insertion of a mezzanine above the stone plinth. The existing timber structure, deemed intact, is preserved. Rather than creating an additional object, the intervention follows a logic of moderate redevelopment that is economically sound and respectful of the heritage. Consequently, the jury recognized the project as “a strong symbol, driven by an autonomous architectural identity recognizable at first glance.”