Architecture

Raised shelter sleeps up to six hikers free of charge

Raised shelter sleeps up to six hikers free of charge
Le Haut Perché has room for up to six people to sleep on a single large mattress
Le Haut Perché has room for up to six people to sleep on a single large mattress
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Le Haut Perché is located amid woodland and streams
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Le Haut Perché is located amid woodland and streams
Le Haut Perché is part of the same Les Refuges Périurbains project which inspired the nearby Le Tronc Creux shelter
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Le Haut Perché is part of the same Les Refuges Périurbains project which inspired the nearby Le Tronc Creux shelter
Le Haut Perché sleeps up to six people
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Le Haut Perché sleeps up to six people 
Le Haut Perché is very basic and just offers a roof over hikers' heads, with no electricity or toilet inside
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Le Haut Perché is very basic and just offers a roof over hikers' heads, with no electricity or toilet inside
Access to Le Haut Perché is gained by a small staircase
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Access to Le Haut Perché is gained by a small staircase
Le Haut Perché has room for up to six people to sleep on a single large mattress
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Le Haut Perché has room for up to six people to sleep on a single large mattress
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British architecture firm Studio Weave, in collaboration with collective Bruit du Frigo, recently completed this attractive little hiking shelter on the outskirts of Bordeaux, France. Raised atop a weathered steel platform, it's available for anyone who wants to stay, free of charge.

The shelter, named Le Haut Perché, is part of the Les Refuges Périurbains project, which also spawned the Le Tronc Creux shelter and several others scattered around the outskirts of Bordeaux. The idea is to encourage the exploration of lesser-known areas in the city's fringes by offering a network of free-to-stay shelters.

Le Haut Perché is located in a scenic spot amid woodland and streams near one of Bordeaux's main water sources. It's clad in timber and its overall design was inspired by nearby water towers. As it's raised off the ground on weathered steel stilts, access to the interior must be gained by climbing a small staircase.

Be warned though: once inside (alas, we've no photos of the interior), it's very basic, with room for up to six people to sleep on a single large mattress ... and that's it. No electricity or toilet is provided, though there is a toilet nearby. All that said, pack some of the region's famous wine and bring a sleeping bag and you've got yourself a pretty nice way to spend an evening.

Those interested in staying at Le Haut Perché or any of the other Les Refuges Périurbains shelters need to head to its website (in French) and place a booking to get the key. As far as we can tell, there aren't any restrictions for foreign tourists.

Source: Studio Weave

View gallery - 6 images
4 comments
4 comments
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really nice. It seems to give a nice view of the area. It gives some protection from roaming animals.
Wombat56
Interesting. They could put installations like this in places with little other economic value, such as flood plains.
Those stairs look dangerous however. I can imagine someone killing themselves when they get up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
chase
Pretty cool. Though i have to ask... Who changes the sheets on the mattress? Personally, they should just get rid of the mattress. Less likely to be bed bugs, rodents or other things that'll use that mattress as home. Or get spilled on it... Or worse. Fold down bunk bed platforms would be welcomed. If you want them, you fold them down. If not, sleep on your pad on the floor. I do like it though.. very nice design looking at the exterior. Bring a Mavic Pro or Bebop up there and fly the area while there.
DavidRogerBrown
A interior photo would have been nice. Stairs are a big "step up" (or down:-) from a ladder. Agree that a huge mattress is not the best set up. Bigger windows should be used for viewing. Great ideal in the right locations.