Forest Products Industry

When people think of Italy, they think of warm beaches and sun-drenched villages but in the north that’s far from the norm. The north has rugged mountains with severe winters, getting caught unawares in this landscape can be fatal. Source: Timberbiz, photos Studio Francesco Faccin That’s where Pancalpina comes to the rescue – the literal translation is alpine bench. Pancalpina is a hybrid object designed for those who experience the mountains. It is a traditional bench, intended for contemplating the landscape, resting, or reflecting, which can transform when needed into a survival kit. Its belly conceals a survival kit and a tent that can be set up using the bench’s own structure. It is not a bivouac or a place for long stays, but rather a minimal shelter for survival while waiting for rescue or for spending a night protected from rain or snow. In its bench configuration, Pancalpina is discreet and non-invasive, made of materials designed to withstand extreme conditions. In emergency form, it becomes a place of safety: inside, users can find essential items such as thermal blankets, a shovel, a torch, and everything needed to set up the tent. The alpine environment remains one of the few areas of truly wild-and at times harsh-nature left in Europe. Any intervention must therefore be respectful and limited capable of preserving a landscape that is only lightly anthropized. Refuges, bivouacs, and benches are among the structures that define these places, becoming true artificial landmarks that help people orient themselves and find protection. Within this context, Pancalpina proposes a new type of object that could, in the future, contribute to experiencing the mountains in a safer yet minimally invasive way. The structure, made of solid larch wood with stainless steel components, ensures durability and resistance to the extreme weather conditions typical of mountain environments. Pancalpina was designed by Studio Francesco Faccin and it was part of a project promoted by Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Italy.

The post Salvation in a wooden bench appeared first on Timberbiz.