Nature lovers, get ready to swoon. As if climbing the Velebit mountain isn’t enough, how about staying in a gorgeous, modern, eco-friendly container house and getting a “first row to the stars”?
The Croatian giant known as the Velebit (Šugarska Duliba), now has another beautiful offering to nature-lovers, a unique container shelter. At 1212 metres above sea-level, it is no surprise that they have called it the “first row to the stars” and now those who venture to these heights will truly be able to enjoy their front-row seats through the huge glass surfaces of the shelter.
Container houses are all the rage around the world and it is fantastic to see such modern solutions coming to Croatia. This mountaineering shelter is unique in its appearance as well as the fact that it is one of a number of genius architectural solutions designed by architect Ivan Juretić in cooperation with the Croatian Mountaineering Association.
The container has such features as large windows of thermal insulating tempered glass, a reinforced flat roof with an additional layer of thermal insulation and an exceptional waterproofing layer that will guarantee water-resistance in extreme conditions over the coming decades.
The shelter is also environmentally conscientious; there is a rainwater tank beneath the shelter which can hold 1,000 litres of collected rainwater and solar panels have been installed. In terms of practicalities, there is an electric pump for water drainage, USB sockets and a 230-volt outlet. There are beds, wardrobes, and a small washbasin. The stove is connected to the chimney and a small storage compartment beneath the bench.
Credit: H.P.S
The final works were carried out from July 28th – August 8th, 2017 and the shelter has since been available to visitors. As well as construction materials being transported to the site at Šugarska Duliba, around 5 tonnes of collected waste were collected by cleaning the existing shelters and the immediate environment. In attendance were almost twenty volunteers from different parts of Croatia and Slovenia, who joined Ivan Juretić and Damir Arman, the work was also supported by the Velebit Nature Park, members of Rescue Service and HPS officials.
Secretary-General of the Croatian Mountaineering Association Darko Berljak said this was not the last in a series of such shelters.
“It is the future of hiking in our country because we have the least pollution in the mountains. And we know how significant shelters are for people as a safety element – to tour around, to spend the night, to have water… in general, they are safe and we bring the mountain to them.”
Around 300,000 kuna was allocated to the creation of this shelter. The works themselves were carried out on a voluntary basis under the guidance of architect Ivan Juretić and financing the procurement, productions and transportation of materials.
There is still a plea for all visitors to look after the shelter and leave it in the condition they found it. Because such a jewel in such a remote place cannot often be found.
I don’t know about you but I am tempted to go hiking now!
Credit: D.A
Excerpts translated from Punkufer
