red bivouac shelter in the alps becomes high-altitude base for bergamo's modern art gallery

Red Bivouac Shelter in the Alps Becomes High-Altitude Base for Bergamo's Modern Art Gallery

GAMeC – Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo and the Bergamo Section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) have unveiled the Aldo Frattini Bivouac, designed by the design laboratory EX. This new structure is located at around 2,300 meters above sea level along the Alta Via delle Orobie Bergamasche in Val Seriana, Bergamo, Italy.

Purpose and Design

The bivouac serves as a mountain refuge and cultural outpost rather than a traditional gallery or exhibition space. It provides shelter and rest while fostering a dialogue between architecture, landscape, and contemporary culture.

The project is part of a wider exploration of the relationship between art, territory, and ecological systems.

Supported by Fondazione Cariplo and Fondazione della Comunità Bergamasca, it extends GAMeC’s cultural network into the alpine environment. The design proposes architecture as a medium of presence and observation instead of display.

Design and Construction

Designed by EX., a design lab founded by Andrea Cassi and Michele Versaci, the bivouac blends architecture, landscape, and technology. Its lightweight, reversible construction system aims for minimal environmental impact.

All images by Tomaso Clavarino, courtesy of GAMeC – Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo.

Collaboration and Cultural Impact

Collaboration between GAMeC and the Bergamo Section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI)
Located on the Alta Via delle Orobie Bergamasche trail, integrating with natural alpine surroundings
Represents a fusion of contemporary culture and ecological sensitivity

This initiative expands the reach of modern art into remote environments, redefining how cultural experiences can interact with nature and the landscape.

Author’s Summary

The Aldo Frattini Bivouac introduces a unique fusion of art, architecture, and nature by establishing a mountain refuge that blends cultural presence with environmental respect in the Alps.

Designboom — 2025-11-03