La Marmotta Hut

The La Marmotta refuge is located at an altitude of 2,420 m in the upper Susa Valley, in the “Via Lattea” ski area close to the dividing ridge with Val Chisone. For a feeling of absolute warmth and comfort, materials such as stone, wood, glass and ceramic are combined with a style that blends tradition and modernity. Constructed on 3 levels plus a basement, the project aimed to replace the old concept of a hiker’s refuge with thick stone walls and tiny openings with a building that opens up to the marvellous spectacle of surrounding nature and captures its energy through large windows. Particular attention was paid to the materials by the designers from AB2ER, a firm specialised in alpine buildings, which also participated with the project in The Plan Award 2019, in the HOSPITALITY category, entering the short list. The architects reused the stone from the previous demolished structure and chose state-of-the-art glass surfaces with low-emission, triple glazing boasting high technical performance.

The result? High-altitude inspiration with a genuine, authentic and enveloping effect. The basement and the bathrooms on the suite floor are fitted with Lea Ceramiche’s large thin tiles. In the basement, the designers opted for the special effect of the symbol of modern architecture, concrete: the Concreto Slimtech collection in the Light shade, in the 60x120 cm format and 6 cm thickness, lends vitality and a contemporary feel to a setting that is both vintage and super-modern. In the suites’ bathrooms, the striking Rust shade was chosen to blend minimalism and design, adding charm and warmth to intimacy and relaxation. To ensure guests’ total peace of mind, moreover, both versions are made with Protect^®, the exclusive antibacterial technology that eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria from the surface 24 hours a day.