First, the geographical and scenic location of the refuge was evaluated. The extraordinary natural setting surrounding the building is certainly a value to consider when intervening on the structure.

For this reason, the volumes constituting the extension have been designed to be as contained as possible within the outline of the existing structure, remaining compact and proportionate to the original volume.

The compositional language of the work is simple and clear; the added portions are easily distinguishable from the original construction through a different use of materials and a different architectural geometry that is more linear and clean.

The extension affects only three sides of the existing building and, from a formal point of view, presents itself as a single object adjacent to the refuge walls; a "horseshoe" that partially encircles the perimeter of the building on the south, east, and north sides, with the same material and technological language. The lowest level of the intervention, corresponding to the ground floor, is made of reinforced concrete and forms the base for the upper floors, which are instead made of X-Lam. The choice to use two different technologies is due to the different operating conditions to which the structures at various levels are subjected; on the ground floor, in winter months, snow will encircle much of the volume, and a material like concrete, properly treated, will be able to replicate the performance of the stone facade that constitutes the original volume. The use of wood, on the other hand, is a choice linked to structural lightness and installation speed. Indeed, X-Lam technology allows for the transport and installation of prefabricated walls in a workshop that can be assembled dry on-site. To protect the structural wooden walls, a sheet metal cladding with angular standing seam joints has been planned, which protects the volume from weather elements such as snow and rain and also allows for the integration of an external insulation layer for better thermal performance. The angular standing seam sheet metal cladding is uniform on facades and roofs, giving a compact and uniform image to the volumes. As for the interventions on the existing envelope, although limited, they will be carried out by restoring the original appearance of the refuge, even in cases of modifying the openings where the restoration of the original shutters with the S.A.T. colors has been planned.