The Mountain Shelters are part of the “The Vagar Country House” development project in Belmonte, Portugal. The challenge was to create an object that would evoke the imagery of traditional Shepherds’ Shelters, taking advantage of the natural and untamed qualities of the land, which spans nearly 250 hectares.
The three shelters resulting from this experience are located at strategic points of the Serra da Esperança, enhancing and preserving the region’s ecological and landscape heritage by conserving the existing scenery and respecting its natural values. These three shelters were conceptually, formally, and constructively inspired by the vernacular shepherd shelters of the region, commonly known as “Choças.”
Camouflaged among endemic vegetation and rocky outcrops, they are strategically oriented toward the Cova da Beira valley, offering privileged views to the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain of continental Portugal. Their placement also seeks to respect the natural context of the site, as well as the topographic profile of the mountain, allowing users to be surrounded by landscapes rich in natural beauty.
The modular configuration of the shelters allows each of them to function independently as a workspace or a refuge for guests, maintaining a strong visual and spatial connection with the surrounding landscape. Certified wood used in the construction ensures quality and durability while allowing it to age beautifully and naturally. The interiors are flooded with natural light thanks to the large, glazed windows, dissolving the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The goal in creating these Mountain Shelters was to provide spaces and experiences in full connection with nature, even in remote locations, based on sustainability principles. The simplified and modular assembly of each Shelter results in a compact volume with clean lines: an equilateral triangular prism developed as a single body, where the bathroom and storage volume is the only element separating the living and sleeping areas.
Architecture is an essential tool for raising awareness about sustainable practices that promote the conservation of natural ecosystems. Thus, this sustainable shelter can be installed in any area designated for this purpose, integrating harmoniously with the landscape. This proposal is based on creating a site-specific architecture capable of generating new natural, social, and cultural landscapes.
Team:
Architecture Office: Filipe Pina Arquitectura
Main Architect: Filipe Pina
Collaboration: Diana Cruz, David Bilo, André Teixeira
Client: The Vagar – Country House
Builder: Loopa Gestão de Obra
Inspection: Filipe Pina
Engineering: Ricardo Pereira
Decoration: Lígia Casanova
Architectural photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio
Materials Used:
Efapel
Anicolor
Velux
Impermeabilização
Acustica
Membranas
