ANOTHER MONCLER + RICK OWENS LIVING PROJECT

AFTER CREATING PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTS WITH MATCHING WARDROBES, SUCH AS A CUSTOMIZED BUS FOR TOURING LAND ART INSTALLATIONS IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT AND AN ISOLATION TANK SLEEPING CHAMBER THAT ENDED UP IN MY HOUSE, THIS SEASON WE PRESENT A DEMOUNTABLE MOUNTAIN REFUGE INSPIRED BY THE CHARLOTTE PERRIAND DESIGNED LODGING OWNED BY HUN’S FAMILY IN THE FRENCH ALPS. (I CALL MY WIFE, MICHÈLE LAMY, “THE HUN” BECAUSE SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL MARAUDER, TAKING WHAT SHE WANTS AND LEAVING WRECKAGE BEHIND HER.)

CONSULTING WITH HUGH BROUGHTON ARCHITECTS, RENOWNED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE IN EXTREME CONDITION STRUCTURES, ENSURED THAT THIS PROJECT INTEGRATED ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR OFF-GRID FUNCTIONALITY, DURABILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND EASE OF TRANSPORT.

THE STAINLESS STEEL MONOCOQUE SHELL, COMPOSED OF 20 PRECISION-ENGINEERED, THERMALLY INSULATED PANELS, PROVIDES BOTH STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND TEMPERATURE RETENTION. THE STRUCTURE’S FOOTING, FEATURING ADJUSTABLE, STAINLESS STEEL LEGS WITH BALL-AND-SOCKET JOINTS, ALLOWS FOR PRECISE LEVELLING ON UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE REFUGE IS ACCESSED VIA AN ENTRY AIRLOCK, PROTECTING AGAINST HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THE REFUGE’S ENERGY SYSTEM IS POWERED BY INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC ROOF PANELS, SUPPLEMENTED BY GROUND-BASED SOLAR ARRAYS AND A WIND TURBINE, ENSURING COMPLETE ENERGY AUTONOMY. A BATTERY ARRAY WITH MULTIPLE REDUNDANCIES OFFERS RELIABLE POWER STORAGE, ENABLING LONG-TERM USE IN REMOTE LOCATIONS.

THE REFUGE ALSO INCORPORATES SUSTAINABLE WATER AND WASTE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SNOWMELT COLLECTION, GREYWATER RECLAMATION, AND A REMOVABLE WASTE STORAGE TANK. HEATING IS PROVIDED BY A LOG-BURNING STOVE AND SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTRIC HEATERS. THE INTERIOR IS LINED WITH MONCLER DUVET NYLON AND FELTED WOOL BLANKETS, A NOD TO JOSEPH BEUYS, WHO WAS MY FIRST ART HERO 50 YEARS AGO.

THE COORDINATED CLOTHING COLLECTION IS BASED ON SOFT ORGANIC COTTON LONG JOHNS LAYERED UNDER DUVET BODYSUITS THAT ZIP INTO SLEEPING COCOONS FOR HIBERNATING IN A FELT AND DUVET LINED STEEL CAVE.