Interlock Cabin

Interlock Cabine is a relocatable alpine shelter designed for a protected mountain site located along a multi-day climbing route where permanent construction and heavy machinery are not permitted. Positioned at the final resting point before the summit, the shelter provides a safe place for climbers to rest overnight while minimizing environmental impact on the fragile landscape.

The building is developed as a prefabricated timber structure assembled primarily through interlocking components with limited mechanical fasteners. All elements are digitally fabricated, numbered, transported in two containers by helicopter, and assembled manually within one day without heavy equipment. This construction system allows the building to be installed, dismantled, and relocated as needed.

The architectural form is generated from a stepped roof that functions both as enclosure and viewing terrace, allowing climbers to rest, gather, and observe the surrounding mountains. Interior sleeping platforms are integrated into the structural system, reducing material use while maximizing spatial efficiency. The building is elevated without permanent foundations and designed to be relocated after several years, allowing the original site to recover naturally.

Rather than creating permanent architecture in a fragile environment, the project proposes a movable architectural system where buildings adapt to the landscape instead of permanently occupying it.