Futuristic Steel Lodge Offers Refuge for Climbers Braving Mount Blanc

Located in the French Alps is the Refuge du Goter, a futuristic-looking mountain lodge that's the final stop for climbers as they ascend nearby Mount Blanc. Also known as the Goter hut, its exterior features stainless steel sides, creating a rigid form that's in sharp contrast to the snowy landscape and rolling mountainside.

Swiss architect Herv Dessimoz designed the 16-meter-tall lodge that juts over a precarious 1,500-meter drop. Despite this apparent danger, safety measures were taken to ensure that it can brave the elements: the hut is nestled 14 meters into the rock, ensuring sturdiness; it has the ability to withstand winds up to 300kph; and it's entirely self-sufficient for energy and water. The interior features communal living with bunk-style bedding and the ability to accommodate up to 120 guests at a time.

If you want to stay in this remote locale, it's imperative to plan ahead. Reservations are required to even enter the Refuge du Goter, and they're only available during certain times of year. For 2015, the last day to stay is in the middle of October.

Photo credit: Pascal Tournaire

Photo credit: Gudrun Berghadi, Lucien Fortunati, Pascal Tournaire

Photo credit: Gudrun Berghadi, Lucien Fortunati, Pascal Tournaire

Photo credit: Gudrun Berghadi, Lucien Fortunati, Pascal Tournaire

Refuge du Goter: Website
via [Lost At E Minor, Exe Magazine]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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