Located in the Dolomites Mountains, Buffa di Perrero is known as the world’s loneliest house. The house really deserves this title as it is located on a mountain and 2800 meters above sea level. This also makes the house one of the highest houses in the world as well.
Buffa di Perrero has a mysterious aura around it, to say the least. An abandoned house on a windy and cold mountaintop with nobody inside is practically the beginning of a low-budget horror movie. While of course, this is just an exaggeration, due to this aspect of the house it became one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy.
This abandoned house has a history that goes back to the beginning of World War 1. In summary, Italy entered WW1 as it wanted to annex the Italian-speaking parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The battles between these countries were mainly fought along the Alps and the Dolomites as well. The harsh terrain of the Italian Front was quite challenging for both sides.
Due to its location, the series of battles on this front was also known as the White War which Italy won in 1918. During the war, Italian soldiers came up with a solution in order to rest, and hide themselves and their supplies from the Austrians.
This solution was to build a secret shack in the mountains hence the story of Buffa di Perrero. In order to hide the shack, the Italian soldiers made it so that the shack was only accessible through rope ladders and carts. In a way, the Italians turned the harsh terrain of the Dolomites into an advantage.
THE RECOVERY PROJECT
The recovery project of the historic Carlo Buffa di Perrero bivouac on was presented on Saturday 1 October in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The Bivouac has returned to be accessible after the renovation that involved the soldiers of the VI Alpine Regiment stationed in Brunico, together with the professionals of insulation and waterproofing and carpenters who have measured themselves in an authentic enterprise at almost 3,000 meters above sea level.
Restoring the bivouac as well as a building renovation operation was above all a mountaineering undertaking: given its position, in fact, the bivouac can only be reached along the Dibona via ferrata or with the help of a helicopter.
Sopra XPS is the thermal insulation chosen to ensure maximum comfort possible inside the bivouac; on the rock wall was also waterproofed with the Ediltop bitumen-polymer membrane.
THE SOPREMA TECHNICAL SOLUTION
Until now there was no pavement on the bivouac dug inside the mountain. A wooden floor was then created consisting of a 35 mm larch plank fixed on a 100 mm joist in direct contact with a 4 mm Ediltop polymer bitumen membrane applied directly to the rock.
Once the walls and windows were restored, the most challenging part of the project was the construction of the roof. On a 25 mm larch plank supported by a 300 mm truss, a latest-generation SOPRA XPS CW 80 mm insulating panel was fixed, protected by a breathable membrane on which a second 25 mm larch plank was fixed.
The Alsan Foam EPS/XPS one-component polyurethane adhesive foam was used for the sealing.
To complete the work, a corrugated sheet was applied.
Here you can also see the video of exploring inside:
