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Location
New Zealand
Industry / Project Type
Landscape
Architect (if applicable)
Graeme Jacobs, Jacobs Architect
Moddex Products Used
Ezibilt EB140
Project Overview
Perched 1360m above sea level in New Zealand’s Lewis Pass, the Brass Monkey Hut is a remote alpine shelter designed by architect Graeme Jacobs of Jacobs Architects. The project challenged standard backcountry design, combining architectural vision with durable, low-maintenance materials – like Moddex’s Ezibilt stairs – ensuring safe, practical access in extreme conditions.
Challenges
With extreme altitude, snow loads, and limited site access, the client required materials that were lightweight, easy to install, and could endure the extreme mountain conditions. A more durable solution was needed to replace typical timber stair treads, which become greasy and slippery over time. The stair to the hut needed to be modular for easy road and helicopter transport, and simple enough to assemble on-site with minimal tools.
Moddex Solution
Moddex supplied our pre-engineered Ezibilt stairs with high-grip, durable materials, designed for fast, no-weld installation, which was a perfect option for such a remote location. The modular system was easily transported by helicopter and installed with minimal tools, overcoming the logistical challenges of the high altitude site.
“The modular system is great, as it makes site installation easy. Very little additional work was required to install the steps, only two small concrete pads were needed. On a remote site where pad holes are dug by hand and the concrete is mixed and poured manually, it’s important to minimise this kind of work.”
Graeme Jacobs, Jacobs Architects
Read the full Q&A, where Graeme shares his unique design approach, the environmental and logistical challenges of building at high altitudes, and the importance of selecting durable, low-maintenance systems like Moddex Ezibilt stairs in off-grid environments.
