/ Periscope 70° _The Mountain Guardian
“Periscope 70°” has received two recognitions in the Terraviva Mountain Guardian Competition:
Third Prize and Community’s Choice Award
Team: Leonardo Zuccaro Marchi, Shubham Majumder, Arzu A. and Elia Villa Aliberti
The Periscope 70° bivouac is a vividly colored, visible, and recognizable capsule that embodies the soul of the mountain while expressing a new idea of ascent, gravity, and flexibility within the context. The project fosters a strong connection with the mountain landscape concerning views, respect, and natural-human forces. The new bivouac Periscope 70° reinterprets contemporary high-altitude outpost architecture while establishing a new relationship with the nature of Stelvio National Park, the heritage of Bernasconi Refuge, and the view of Santa Caterina Valfurva.
Concept I_Flip_ 0° 30° 70° – Flexibility as sustainability
The bivouac features a modular and symmetrical structure that allows it to adapt to various inclines—from flat terrain to near-vertical faces, from 30° to 70°. The project’s title, Periscope 70°, relies on the vertical solution as the most radical of the other possible ones. The Periscope’s reversible design permits flipping depending on the slope direction, while interior modules such as sleeping units, seating, and storage can adjust or rotate to maintain usability regardless of orientation. This ensures both spatial coherence and functional resilience in all mountain conditions. It guarantees different internal experiences of the bivouac in various contexts while maintaining the same streel structure and skin with external aluminum cladding and internal solid timber boards. This sustainable, flexible solution creates numerous opportunities for reconnecting with the existing Bernasconi Refuge, which Periscope 70° engages with via a pedestrian path integrated into the landscape and equipped with solar panels.
Concept II_ Anchoring – Nature as inspiration
The project is anchored to the rock in a continuous synergy between gravity and ascent. The architectural elements of the bivouac become clear interpretations of the mountain’s physics. Just as the Ibex finds micro-ledges to secure its footing, our structure must integrate with the landscape, anchoring into rock fissures, leveraging tension and compression, and minimizing environmental impact. Similar to a climber, the bivouac features pillars (‘legs’) that are compressed against the rock to ensure balance and control. Concurrently, a system of tensioned cables and metal anchors (‘arms’) offers support, maintaining stability against the rotational forces and wind pressure.
Concept III_ Periscope – Human settlements and sky views
Conceived as an axis between earth and sky, the Bivouac Periscope visually and symbolically aligns with Santa Caterina Valfurva below and the cosmos above. Its vertical section captures this duality—offering climbers a framed view of the village from within the cabin, while its bold exterior hue ensures visibility from a distance. The skylight at the top acts as a metaphor for the endless journey of ascent, simultaneously providing views of the night sky, passive lighting, and thermal efficiency. A beacon for both direction and reflection, the bivouac becomes part of the climber’s dialogue with the landscape.
Finally, Periscope 70° will be the new “Mountain Guardian,” connecting human settlements to the sky,
gravity and ascent, as well as climbing tensions and compressions, while respecting the essence of the mountain through flexible, adaptive solutions. Periscope 70° embraces the historical legacy of the mountain, its soul, and its future of hope, respect, and sustainability.
