Bivacco Brédy Offers Warmth and Shelter High in the Mountains
Bivacco Brédy is an innovative cabin located in the mountains of Italy by BCW Collective, designed in 2021. The structure is a memorial to Claudio Brédy, an alpinist who tragically lost his life in a climbing accident, symbolizing landscape appreciation and the alpine quality of his life. It features a welcoming interior, with wood panelling and climbing cord bunks, that connects to the stunning views of surrounding mountain peaks.








A Tribute to Claudio Brédy
Bivacco Brèdy is the winning proposal from an invited competition organized by YACademy and Cantieri d’Alta Quota on behalf of the Brédy family. Designed by BCW Collective, the hut is located on a high altitude site in the Italian region of Valle d’Aosta, near the Laghi di Dzioule, two small alpine lakes at 2500m elevation in the secluded Vertosan Valley. The competition sought detailed designs of a bivouac to celebrate the memory of Claudio Brédy, a well-known politician and alpinist from Valle d’Aosta who tragically lost his life in a climbing accident at the end of 2017.
Symbolic Design Choices
Inspiration from the life of Claudio Brèdy and the mountains he was so passionate about motivated the memorial architecture quality embedded in the proposal. The spirit of the man and the place are captured through symbolism. Minimalist design choices embrace the essentiality of the mountain context, while the cantilevered form, pushing into the void, evokes the absence of an important member of a family and a community at large.
Stunning Views to the South
The entire structure forms a telescope, opening towards grand views to the south. A large opening frames the Grivola and Gran Paradiso, one of the 4000m peaks the alpinist ascended during his career. This orientation doubles as an environmental design strategy as well, maximizing solar gain to warm the interior even in the cold months.
Constructed From Durable Materials
Durable zinc cladding over insulated panel walls helps capture and retain heat. With a welcoming interior space, clad in wood and organized for maximum functionality, the experiential qualities of the surroundings are brought to the forefront. Folding sleeping bunks, made from climbing cord, line either side of the shelter, which culminates in a spacious common area highlighted by the stunning view beyond. A vestibule adds protection from the elements and a space to store gear.
An Iconic Landmark for the Vertosan Valley
The strong yet simple form, inspired by its context and cantilevering into the void, is a new iconic landmark for the Vertosan Valley.
Photography by BCW Collective
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