MetsäWood and designer Roger Bernet have answered the age-old question: "how does one design and construct and deliver a modest yet modern spa/bungalow that can withstand torrential snow and relentless wind (of up to 100 mph) at the rarefied altitude of 2,690 meters?"

The solution has taken shape in the Alpine SPA-Bungalow, a "unique sauna experience" at the Loetschenpass Hut hotel in Switzerland.

As readers familiar with our earlier article on MetsäWood will know, the company is pioneering the use of engineered lumber-namely, the proprietary Kerto LVL-Q panel, a laminated veneer product with pronounced strength, impressive dimensional stability, and inherent fire and moisture resistance.

The LVL-Q panels are also relatively light, which was of paramount importance for the SPA-Bungalow project, since the completed modules had to be transported via helicopter.

In order to realize the vision, the SPA-Bungalow was assembled off-site, a process that took four weeks. Then the three modules comprising the bungalow were flown to the top of the pass, where installation was achieved in a couple of hours.

Says Bernet, "Kerto LVL Q-panels fulfilled all our technical requirements-strong yet lightweight, fast to build with, ecological, and fire- and moisture-resistant."

The material is also aesthetically pleasing, an attribute that further cut costs as it enabled the rustic wood interior-a look that's entirely appropriate to the venue and to the sauna culture. The SPA's exterior features a weather-resistant fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

To read more about the SPA-Bungalow and MetsäWood's sustainable approach, see MetsäWood.