Palisades Glacier Mountain Hut

Conceived for a design competition in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, the Palisades Glacier Hut is an off-grid refuge rooted in ecological performance and communal experience. The circular design reflects the idea of collective shelter—anchoring private sleeping quarters around a sunlit, south-facing communal hearth.

Built for backcountry skiers and hikers seeking both solitude and connection, the structure captures and stores energy from the sun and snow. A sloped roof gathers meltwater while masonry walls provide thermal mass to stabilize temperature. Sleeping cells offer quiet, monastic respite; the center hums with warmth, food, and conversation. Though never built, the project represents a distilled vision of architecture in its most elemental form—shelter, rhythm, and purpose—set against the vastness of alpine wilderness.