4 Seasons Architecture: Winter

Architecture has always existed and will always exist with human civilization. There is architecture in every climate, every geography and every period of history because people and space are inseparable. We do not need to be in a special geography or climatic condition to maintain spatial activities. Throughout history, humans have found a way to create space in all conditions. Four Seasons Architecture is a series about how architectural production is done in different climatic conditions and in what kind of spaces they are. The first topic of the series is winter. Let’s have a look at the architecture when “let it snow”!

Winter Cabins

Winter cabins are one of the building types we see most in winter architecture. Winter cabins are built in similar scales, although they have different designs depending on the designer, the purpose of use, and topographical conditions. It is produced with proper building foundations, construction techniques and materials that provide insulation suitable for snowy weather conditions.

Winter Pavillion

A pavilion is an open, flexible architectural structures that welcomes people to visit and spend time there. It may be temporary or permanent. The shape and purpose of the pavilion could change by climate and geographic conditions according to the designer. In winter architecture, pavilions exist with their sculptural stance in the snowy landscape. Pavilions, like all other structures, are built with construction techniques and materials compatible with snowy climatic conditions.

Resort Hotel

Due to winter tourism, we mostly see the examples of resorts in snowy locations. These small-scale resort hotel buildings, which stand out with their horizontal architecture and sloping roof architectural features, generally consist of a few blocks. We can say that they are structures that are easy to heat in terms of being multi-block and small buildings. Depending on the program of the projects, these are generally the projects that adopt the concept of serving for winter tourism and with the best view under these conditions. One of the most important issues will be not to forget the importance of sustainability in these difficult weather conditions. There are many examples of hotels from all over the world using traditional building materials, ecological energy consumption and sustainable solutions.