Tana delle Marmotte: Alpine Learning Burrow
Officina 82 crafts Tana delle Marmotte, a reversible underground learning space made of Corten steel and spruce plywood at 2,173m in the Alps.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Officina 82 designed Tana delle Marmotte, an underground educational pavilion in the Italian Alps.
- The primary structure uses three prefabricated Corten steel tubes resting on fine gravel without concrete.
- Interiors feature contoured 40mm spruce plywood ribs mimicking alpine marmot winter burrows.
- The space includes an acrylic porthole, integrated timber benches, and LED strip lighting.
Architecture practice Officina 82 has completed Tana delle Marmotte (Marmot Den), a permanent underground educational installation situated at an altitude of 2,173 meters at the Pavillon intermediate station of the Skyway Monte Bianco cableway in Aosta Valley, Italy. Conceived as an experiential learning environment for children and teenagers, the project merges play with environmental education by translating the subterranean habitats of Alpine marmots into modular architecture integrated directly into the mountain terrain.
The pavilion’s primary structural shell consists of three prefabricated Corten steel conduits: an 8-meter-long central tube paired with two transverse access pipes measuring 2,200 mm and 1,300 mm in diameter. To preserve the high-altitude ecosystem, the structure rests on a bed of fine gravel without permanent concrete foundations, ensuring complete structural reversibility. The Corten components were manufactured off-site with flanged connections, weight-calibrated for helicopter delivery, and dry-assembled on-site to minimize environmental disruption and eliminate extended construction footprints at altitude.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Inside, the fit-out is lined with 40 mm thick, three-ply spruce plywood ribs anchored to perimeter timber rings that mirror the circular steel profile. Infilled with tongue-and-groove spruce boarding, these custom-contoured ribs form a continuous, fluid spatial volume inspired by winter hibernation tunnels dug by marmots. Timber surfaces integrate multiple functions, serving as ergonomic seating, display cases, graphics mounts, and a carved staircase leading to a transparent acrylic porthole where visitors look out over the surrounding terrain. Overhead LED strips trace the curved interior profile to guide visitors along the route.
The Tana delle Marmotte project exemplifies sustainable contemporary architecture tailored for fragile high-altitude environments. By utilizing recyclable materials like Corten steel and timber alongside a foundation-free dry-assembly method, the design achieves minimal ecological impact while offering structural reversibility. This approach demonstrates how educational architecture can harmoniously coexist with protected natural landscapes without leaving permanent scars.
The project was led by architects Fabio Revetria and Lara Sappa of Officina82, with collaborators Arianna Garelli, Lucrezia Nari, and Simone Bianchi. Structural design was handled by IngeMBP (Corrado Curti), and photography was captured by Giulia Sarno.
Source: designboom
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