It is next to impossible to overlook the poetic quality of the austere concrete sculpture in a clearing amid a snowy wood. But a stay in this alpine cabin is quite another matter. The site denies the dynamics of modern life and has none of the conveniences – such as central heating, a dishwasher, or electric range – that we have come to take for granted. “Back to basics” would be an appropriate motto. The cabin – which accommodates four to six guests – is Spartan through and through, with floors and ceilings of exposed concrete, floors of the spruce from the surrounding forest, as well as light switches, lamps, armchairs, chairs and crude washbasins of recycled building components and a wood stove of steel. A prefab building dating to the 1970s had occupied the spot where the cabin – which served as clubhouse for an alpine sports association – now stands. The architects purchased the dilapidated wood bungalow in an auction and replaced it with a small structure, which they not only use themselves, but also let out to like-minded acquaintances. Because the site could no longer be built upon, they were required to maintain the footprint of the existing building and implement a “refurbishment”. Additional space was gained by situating the auxiliary spaces where the former cabin’s canopy had been. The exterior wall of timber metamorphosed into the formwork for the interior of the new wall. The resulting imprint preserves vestiges of the past.