Reconnecting with nature
S.A.S.S.O.
S.A.S.S.O. - Small Alpine Shelter for Scientific Observation
S.A.S.S.O. is a habitable module designed to support environmental monitoring in high-altitude mountain areas, providing shelter for scientific instruments and technical personnel. The project reinterprets the concept of an alpine bivouac, transforming it into a sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and functional scientific infrastructure that harmonizes with the landscape and communicate with the environment.
Italy
Regional
Aosta Valley, Piedmont
Mainly rural
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
2024-11-03
No
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
S.A.S.S.O. is a modular infrastructure for environmental monitoring in high-altitude areas designed and made by a team of students of Politecnico di Torino. The project is based on principles of sustainability, modularity, and self-sufficiency, combining technological innovation and applied research. Funded through academic grants and private sponsorships, the module was first showcased in an itinerant exhibition before being installed at an altitude of over 2,400 meters in the municipality of Bionaz (Aosta Valley). Here, researchers will use it for climate monitoring and environmental data collection. S.A.S.S.O. represents a significant initiative for raising awareness and enhancing the value of mountain territories, offering a replicable model of sustainable scientific infrastructure.
S.A.S.S.O. fully embodies the principles of the New European Bauhaus by integrating innovation, sustainability, and participation to address climate change challenges. Through experimentation and the use of recycled materials, self-sufficient technologies, and a multidisciplinary approach, the project not only provides a concrete solution for environmental monitoring but also establishes a new model of alpine architecture based on low impact, modularity, and reversibility.
The evolution of S.A.S.S.O. could lead to the creation of a network of fixed monitoring stations for climate observation, fostering the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in sustainability and technological innovation.
Its architecture and concept are as sustainable as the objective for which it was created, as well as the functions it serves. It is a bivouac in tune with the times, designed sustainably with careful and thoughtful choices, such as reversibility and low environmental impact.
S.A.S.S.O. fully embodies the principles of the New European Bauhaus by integrating innovation, sustainability, and participation to address climate change challenges. Through experimentation and the use of recycled materials, self-sufficient technologies, and a multidisciplinary approach, the project not only provides a concrete solution for environmental monitoring but also establishes a new model of alpine architecture based on low impact, modularity, and reversibility.
The evolution of S.A.S.S.O. could lead to the creation of a network of fixed monitoring stations for climate observation, fostering the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in sustainability and technological innovation.
Its architecture and concept are as sustainable as the objective for which it was created, as well as the functions it serves. It is a bivouac in tune with the times, designed sustainably with careful and thoughtful choices, such as reversibility and low environmental impact.
High-altitude architecture
Participatory planning
Circular design
Climate Change
Environmental monitoring
S.A.S.S.O. exemplifies sustainable architecture by utilizing recycled and recyclable materials, such as wooden panels from processing waste and natural insulation materials. Its construction system relies on dry assembly techniques and reversible solutions, promoting reuse and reducing environmental impact. The module is currently energy self-sufficient, powered by photovoltaic panels that supply energy to lighting and all equipment housed within the structure.
Future developments will focus on further reducing environmental emissions by incorporating 100% recycled and recyclable materials, such as:
- Compressed polymer panels made from recycled plastic (PET) derived from shredded bottles, which offer superior thermal and mechanical resistance.
- Pressed wooden panels made from wood processing waste, treated with non-toxic solutions to improve their durability.
- Next-generation insulation materials produced from natural fibers and textile waste, ensuring high thermal performance while minimizing environmental impact.
The construction will feature a fully dry and reversible assembly system, ensuring easy disassembly, reuse, and relocation, thus minimizing waste and reducing the ecological footprint. The modular design allows for adaptation to various contexts and needs.
Energy self-sufficiency will continue to be supported by:
- Photovoltaic panels and storage systems optimized for extreme high-altitude conditions.
- Smart energy management systems designed to minimize consumption by adapting to environmental conditions.
The project aims to further reduce emissions and maximize the use of recycled materials, particularly polymers, to create structures with the highest percentage of material derived from waste products of other processes. Future objectives also include expanding the network of environmental monitoring stations to integrate both monitoring and habitation functions.
Future developments will focus on further reducing environmental emissions by incorporating 100% recycled and recyclable materials, such as:
- Compressed polymer panels made from recycled plastic (PET) derived from shredded bottles, which offer superior thermal and mechanical resistance.
- Pressed wooden panels made from wood processing waste, treated with non-toxic solutions to improve their durability.
- Next-generation insulation materials produced from natural fibers and textile waste, ensuring high thermal performance while minimizing environmental impact.
The construction will feature a fully dry and reversible assembly system, ensuring easy disassembly, reuse, and relocation, thus minimizing waste and reducing the ecological footprint. The modular design allows for adaptation to various contexts and needs.
Energy self-sufficiency will continue to be supported by:
- Photovoltaic panels and storage systems optimized for extreme high-altitude conditions.
- Smart energy management systems designed to minimize consumption by adapting to environmental conditions.
The project aims to further reduce emissions and maximize the use of recycled materials, particularly polymers, to create structures with the highest percentage of material derived from waste products of other processes. Future objectives also include expanding the network of environmental monitoring stations to integrate both monitoring and habitation functions.
The design of S.A.S.S.O. reinterprets the tradition of the alpine bivouac in a contemporary form, optimizing space to ensure functionality and comfort. Integration into the landscape is achieved through the use of natural materials and color finishes in harmony with the surrounding environment. The ergonomic design enhances natural lighting, improving the quality of the living experience.
Furthermore, the structure is designed to be transported and installed using low-impact methods, adapting to various territorial configurations. Additionally, S.A.S.S.O. is exemplary and could serve as a reference and best-practice laboratory for this approach because:
- Its transportability and lightweight limitations make it easily deployable and relocatable.
- The minimal processing and quick assembly time, with downstream assembly, ensure efficiency.
- The integration of technical and environmental instrumentation enhances its functionality.
- Its adaptability to different territorial morphologies makes it versatile.
- It is scalable for international use in extreme environments or any context.
Furthermore, the structure is designed to be transported and installed using low-impact methods, adapting to various territorial configurations. Additionally, S.A.S.S.O. is exemplary and could serve as a reference and best-practice laboratory for this approach because:
- Its transportability and lightweight limitations make it easily deployable and relocatable.
- The minimal processing and quick assembly time, with downstream assembly, ensure efficiency.
- The integration of technical and environmental instrumentation enhances its functionality.
- Its adaptability to different territorial morphologies makes it versatile.
- It is scalable for international use in extreme environments or any context.
The design process involved architects, engineers, environmental researchers, and construction companies in a multidisciplinary approach. Students actively participated, learning directly in the field with the support of professors and expert professionals who assisted us during the most challenging stages and related tasks.
The multidisciplinary approach of the project ensures that expertise from diverse fields is integrated, allowing for a more holistic response to the challenges at hand. The collaboration with experts across various sectors guarantees that the project has a concrete impact in both the fight against climate change and the preservation of the alpine heritage, creating a foundation for sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
S.A.S.S.O. is designed with cost-efficiency in mind, making it accessible for a wide range of stakeholders, particularly in areas where funding might be limited. This focus on affordability also ensures that the solutions developed can be scaled and replicated in other regions without significant financial barriers. All data collected during the project will be made available as open-source, ensuring transparency and providing local research institutions with valuable resources. This openness promotes collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation, making the data accessible to a broad audience of researchers, policymakers, and communities. The project fosters the creation of a network of local entities, including businesses, academic institutions, and community organizations. By connecting these groups, the project promotes knowledge exchange, fosters local partnerships, and creates a supportive ecosystem for sustainable development.
The multidisciplinary approach of the project ensures that expertise from diverse fields is integrated, allowing for a more holistic response to the challenges at hand. The collaboration with experts across various sectors guarantees that the project has a concrete impact in both the fight against climate change and the preservation of the alpine heritage, creating a foundation for sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
S.A.S.S.O. is designed with cost-efficiency in mind, making it accessible for a wide range of stakeholders, particularly in areas where funding might be limited. This focus on affordability also ensures that the solutions developed can be scaled and replicated in other regions without significant financial barriers. All data collected during the project will be made available as open-source, ensuring transparency and providing local research institutions with valuable resources. This openness promotes collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation, making the data accessible to a broad audience of researchers, policymakers, and communities. The project fosters the creation of a network of local entities, including businesses, academic institutions, and community organizations. By connecting these groups, the project promotes knowledge exchange, fosters local partnerships, and creates a supportive ecosystem for sustainable development.
S.A.S.S.O. was developed as an open construction site, making it both permeable and perceptible to the local community of Nus (Aosta Valley), where it was realized. This open approach allowed the inhabitants and visitors to directly engage with the construction process, observe the methodologies used, and interact with the professionals involved.
The goal of maintaining an open construction site was to create an opportunity for active community participation and engagement. It was important to make the process transparent, so the local residents of Nus could better understand the construction techniques, the sustainable materials being used, and the overall goals of the project. The aim was to build a sense of ownership and inclusion, fostering a deeper connection between the community and the initiative. The construction process was made permeable to the public by regularly opening the site for visits, workshops, and educational events. Local residents, students, and visitors were encouraged to engage with the construction activities, ask questions, and participate in hands-on learning experiences. This approach turned the site into a living laboratory where theory and practice met, allowing the community to gain practical knowledge about sustainable building techniques, environmental monitoring, and climate change adaptation strategies.
Furthermore, the perceptibility of the site meant that the progress of the construction was visible and accessible. This transparency ensured that the community was aware of the ongoing work and developments, helping them understand the tangible impact the project would have on their environment and daily lives.
The goal of maintaining an open construction site was to create an opportunity for active community participation and engagement. It was important to make the process transparent, so the local residents of Nus could better understand the construction techniques, the sustainable materials being used, and the overall goals of the project. The aim was to build a sense of ownership and inclusion, fostering a deeper connection between the community and the initiative. The construction process was made permeable to the public by regularly opening the site for visits, workshops, and educational events. Local residents, students, and visitors were encouraged to engage with the construction activities, ask questions, and participate in hands-on learning experiences. This approach turned the site into a living laboratory where theory and practice met, allowing the community to gain practical knowledge about sustainable building techniques, environmental monitoring, and climate change adaptation strategies.
Furthermore, the perceptibility of the site meant that the progress of the construction was visible and accessible. This transparency ensured that the community was aware of the ongoing work and developments, helping them understand the tangible impact the project would have on their environment and daily lives.
The network of partners and sponsors has grown to be wider and continues to expand day by day. Over time, the initial collaborations with companies from Piedmont and Aosta Valley have evolved into a more extensive network, involving new regional and national partners who share a commitment to sustainability and innovation. This expanding network strengthens the project’s foundations and ensures its long-term success and impact. The materials used in the project were obtained through partnerships and sponsorships, which were established and strengthened over time with companies from both the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions. These long-lasting collaborations helped ensure the availability of high-quality, sustainable materials and fostered a strong network of regional support.
The project is built around a participatory and collaborative process, which actively involves multiple stakeholders at different levels, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach. The key participants include:
- Students and Professors: Engaging students and professors in applied research and technological innovation allows for a dynamic exchange of ideas and fosters the development of creative and sustainable solutions. This collaboration encourages the growth of new skills and knowledge, contributing to the future of the field and the advancement of green technologies.
- Academic Institutions and Research Bodies: Partnering with academic institutions and research organizations creates a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration. The project fosters synergies between various fields such as architecture, environmental engineering, and climate sciences, allowing for the integration of innovative solutions with scientific and technical expertise. This synergy is crucial in addressing complex issues like climate change and environmental sustainability.
- Local Communities and Industry Players: The involvement of local communities and companies from the relevant sectors ensures that the project is closely aligned with real-world needs and challenges. By integrating the expertise of industry professionals, we ensure that the solutions developed are practical, scalable, and adaptable to different territorial realities. This collaboration also creates opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the local context.
- Students and Professors: Engaging students and professors in applied research and technological innovation allows for a dynamic exchange of ideas and fosters the development of creative and sustainable solutions. This collaboration encourages the growth of new skills and knowledge, contributing to the future of the field and the advancement of green technologies.
- Academic Institutions and Research Bodies: Partnering with academic institutions and research organizations creates a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration. The project fosters synergies between various fields such as architecture, environmental engineering, and climate sciences, allowing for the integration of innovative solutions with scientific and technical expertise. This synergy is crucial in addressing complex issues like climate change and environmental sustainability.
- Local Communities and Industry Players: The involvement of local communities and companies from the relevant sectors ensures that the project is closely aligned with real-world needs and challenges. By integrating the expertise of industry professionals, we ensure that the solutions developed are practical, scalable, and adaptable to different territorial realities. This collaboration also creates opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the local context.
Through experimentation and the use of recycled materials, self-sufficient technologies, and a multidisciplinary approach, the project not only provides a concrete solution for environmental monitoring but also represents a new model of alpine architecture based on low impact, modularity, and reversibility. The evolution of S.A.S.S.O. could lead to the creation of a network of fixed stations for climate monitoring, promoting the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in sustainability and technological innovation.
The module is the result of the work of a student Team created in 2022 within the Faculty of Architecture of the Politecnico di Torino. The Team was composed of students from the Architecture and Engineering degree courses, who collaborated with Politecnico professors and researchers in the design and realisation of the module. The entire process was managed independently by the students who found partners and sponsorships, creating a network of companies and realities located in Piedmont and Aosta Valley that decided to collaborate in the initiative. The main aim of the architectural design was to integrate the environmental monitoring instruments made available by the university's researchers, with whom there was continuous discussion to optimise the module's functionality.
The realisation of the module made it possible to organise several days of didactic construction sites during which the students were able to actively participate in the construction of the structure under the guidance of a construction company professionals that led the construction site. All the companies that supplied the materials and the professionals involved came from local businesses in the area where the project took place, with the aim of enhancing local activities and small businesses. The students in the Team were also supervised by a group of alpine guides who trained them on the requirements of the alpine environment, also highlighting the dangers and needs of this extreme and complex territory. Their help was also indispensable in identifying the installation site in the valley and during the days of positioning and fixing the module at height.
The realisation of the module made it possible to organise several days of didactic construction sites during which the students were able to actively participate in the construction of the structure under the guidance of a construction company professionals that led the construction site. All the companies that supplied the materials and the professionals involved came from local businesses in the area where the project took place, with the aim of enhancing local activities and small businesses. The students in the Team were also supervised by a group of alpine guides who trained them on the requirements of the alpine environment, also highlighting the dangers and needs of this extreme and complex territory. Their help was also indispensable in identifying the installation site in the valley and during the days of positioning and fixing the module at height.
The S.A.S.S.O. prototype represents a scalable and replicable model for creating a network of sustainable and self-sufficient living modules, adaptable to various alpine and extreme environments.
Key characteristics of the system include:
- Flexibility and Modularity: The module can be expanded or adapted to meet specific research and monitoring needs.
- Adaptability to Different Territorial Morphologies: Ensuring installation in rugged environments without altering the soil or ecosystem.
- Low Cost and Accessibility: Making the model replicable on a large scale and accessible to research institutions, universities, and local communities.
Key characteristics of the system include:
- Flexibility and Modularity: The module can be expanded or adapted to meet specific research and monitoring needs.
- Adaptability to Different Territorial Morphologies: Ensuring installation in rugged environments without altering the soil or ecosystem.
- Low Cost and Accessibility: Making the model replicable on a large scale and accessible to research institutions, universities, and local communities.
This scalability envisions a network of monitoring stations that would contribute to climate research and the conservation of mountain ecosystems. Innovation also lies in the attempt to merge the traditional role of the alpine bivouac with scientific research purposes, incorporating equipment and tools for study, monitoring, and data storage. The innovation extends to the participatory design process, as well as the decision to focus solely on recycled materials, aligning the project with sustainable practices and minimizing its environmental footprint.
The installation at 2,400 meters in the municipality of Bionaz supports glacier research and the study of hydrogeological instability, contributing to the understanding and protection of alpine ecosystems. This, however, is just the first step in a much broader initiative that we hope will continue to develop, following the vision and framework we have outlined and envisioned for the future.
