Embedded in a remote and environmentally sensitive site in Barra dos Remédios, on the western coast of Ceará, Brazil, Casa Daia opened in 2025 with the purpose of promoting regenerative tourism, cultural immersion, and a meaningful relationship with the territory and its local community. The project serves as a case study for the application of industrialized timber construction within hospitality architecture.
Set on a former farm of approximately 220 hectares, the boutique hotel coexists with diverse ecosystems — mangroves, dunes, riverbanks, caatinga vegetation, and coastal forest — forming an overlap of landscapes.
The project proposes a construction model in which prefabrication supports architectural intention rather than limiting it. At Casa Daia, modular timber construction becomes a response to the environmental, logistical, and cultural conditions of the site.
The project maintains relationships with neighboring communities, such as Pescada Nova and Praia Nova, prioritizing local labor and supporting social initiatives in the region. In a context marked by environmental and social transformation across Brazil’s coastal territories, Casa Daia positions architecture as a framework connecting landscape, construction, and local communities rather than as an isolated object within the site.
Within this context, the modular timber architecture developed by UNA barbara e valentim investigates strategies that respond to geographic remoteness, logistical complexity, territorial fragility, and the demand for construction precision, while supporting the spatial, environmental, and material quality of the ensemble.
Environmental zoning
The hotel's four bungalows, each approximately 90 square meters, constitute a low-impact intervention within the territory. Before construction, an environmental zoning study was carried out to identify existing clearings and sensitive ecological conditions across the site.
The modular units were positioned in previously open areas, avoiding the removal of native vegetation. Shallow foundations and elevated decks minimize direct interference with the soil while preserving natural water permeability and existing drainage patterns. These decisions reduce ecological disturbance and the amount of concrete typically associated with hospitality construction.
Bioclimatic design
Studies of solar orientation and prevailing coastal winds guided the placement of the volumes to ensure cross ventilation and thermal comfort without mechanical cooling systems. Verandas, overhangs, and large openings create a relationship between interior and landscape, allowing climate and natural light to shape the spatial experience.
The project utilizes passive bioclimatic strategies including cross ventilation, optimized orientation, elevated floors, controlled daylighting, and roof overhangs for solar shading to reduce energy demand compared to typical tropical resorts. Wide eaves minimize direct sun exposure, while the ventilation strategy maintains airflow even with partially closed units. Additional low-impact features include solar energy systems, rainwater harvesting, waste management, agroforestry practices, and reduced plastic use.
Industrialized timber construction
The bungalows were built using the Modular BV system. Developed by UNA barbara e valentim in partnership with the Brazilian engineered timber manufacturer Crosslam, then were dry-assembled on site by the contractor Abaeté Construtora e Incorporadora. The system is based on prefabricated modules in reforested eucalyptus cross-laminated timber (CLT), produced in a controlled factory environment.
Casa Daia demonstrates the application of this system in remote and environmentally sensitive areas, where predictability in costs, timelines, and environmental impact is important. Compared to traditional construction methods, modular timber assembly reduces waste, increases process control, and shortens implementation time.
Before construction began, an environmental zoning study was carried out in alignment with the principles of regenerative tourism: minimal impact, integration with the landscape, appreciation of local culture, and respect for the time of the land. The architecture responds to these conditions through an approach that avoids vegetation removal and reduces soil interference.
Modularity and circular construction
A central aspect of the Modular BV system is its modular logic. Rather than relying on fixed plan configurations, the structural modules can be arranged and adapted according to topography, vegetation, views, and future programmatic requirements.
The construction system supports both assembly and disassembly. Components can be relocated, reconfigured, upgraded, or repurposed with minimal material loss, extending the lifespan of building elements beyond a single use cycle. This reversible approach positions the project within circular economy frameworks, where future adaptation can occur without demolition or significant new material extraction. The modular logic also allows individual units to expand or evolve while maintaining consistency across the site.
Casa Daia is the second built example using the Modular BV system. The first application, Modular Bahia, tested the system within a residential context on the southern coast of Bahia, combining timber structure, CLT enclosures, and passive environmental strategies adapted to tropical conditions.
