‬ living in the woods

Location: Tumbira Region, Amazon Forest - Brazil “How can we conceive an architecture made from the forest, for the forest, that becomes part of the forest?” In response to this central question, we arrived at the concept of the “nest,” evoking protection, hospitality, tranquility, and family, and the concept of the “path,” which explores community, shared experiences, forest trails, and the integration of people with nature. These concepts emerged from an in-depth analysis of the place, its people, nature, and culture, observing the interaction between vegetation and water in the igapós, the reflections on the water, the labyrinthine configuration of the islands, and the nests of yellow-rumped... More

Creation of an apartment in the rural section of a farmhouse in Praz-Pury The project involves the creation of an apartment in the partially disused rural part of a 1930s farmhouse. Fribourg farmhouses of that era housed both living quarters and farm functions under one roof. The rural section typically consisted of two stables flanking a central passageway — the fourragère — a through-space used for feeding livestock, which also benefited from additional height allowing hay to be stored above the stables. David BARD David BARD David BARD David BARD David BARD The intervention follows a logic of continuity, enhancing existing spatial qualities. The apartment is laid out on the ground floor acros... More

The house is located in the high part of the mountain, as a sort of watchtower over the Jávea Port. Adrián Mora Maroto Resolving the plot’s marked slope and integrating the architecture in a respectful way and in dialogue with the natural surroundings where it stands are the two premises to which the volume, with its simple lines and materialised in natural stone, aims to respond. In addition to a unique patio flanked by the hillside from which the house is accessed, the 25-metre-long infinity pool stands out, which seems to blur on the horizon. The materiality combines natural elements that provide warmth, such as wood and lime plasters, and natural light ends up configuring the pleasant interior space. Adri&aa... More

This villa is located on a large wooded nature plot, which overlooks from the top of the hill with views over the vegetation and the sea in the background.  Raul Garcia Studio The project proposes an exclusive villa with large and luminous interior spaces whose limits are blurred in order to connect with the exterior space from all areas. Natural materials that integrate with the surroundings and dialogue with it in a respectful way, covered and uncovered spaces where natural light interweaves with architecture in a graceful manner, an infinity pool blurring the horizon and an unequalled natural environment combine in this project to offer as a result an architecture that recalls the traditional constructions of the area but offe... More

Casa Cibeles is located in the municipality of La Ceja, a territory characterized by open landscapes, gentle topographies, and a strong presence of native vegetation. This natural environment not only frames the project but also defines its starting point: to conceive a dwelling that respects the land, reduces its footprint, and allows the landscape to maintain its continuity. Mauricio Carvajal. Mauricio Carvajal. Mauricio Carvajal. Mauricio Carvajal. The initial challenge arose from the need to inhabit without interrupting, avoiding invasive interventions that usually alter the natural condition of the soil. The response was to elevate the house to free the ground level, allowing biological life and the natural drainag... More

Located in St. Petersburg, this hotel complex is conceived as a low-impact intervention embedded within a forested landscape. The project prioritises integration with its natural surroundings, using spatial organisation, material selection, and passive design strategies to minimise visual and environmental impact. SNOB Architects SNOB Architects The masterplan is composed of several detached volumes with restrained geometries, connected by a continuous glased axis that functions as the main circulation and viewing spine. This configuration preserves permeability across the site while allowing for both open communal areas and more private zones. The ground level remains porous, with interior spaces extending directly into terraces... More

EMA is conceived as a quiet continuum rather than a singular architectural object. Located in Malappuram, Kerala, the 1,700 sq.ft residence draws from the philosophy of the Kaavu, where human life exists in balance with nature. The house prioritizes restraint, shadow, and enclosure, creating spaces that feel introspective, calm, and thermally comfortable. Shamil Sanjay PP Caption Built using reclaimed materials from old Kerala homes and temples, EMA embeds memory and craftsmanship into its fabric. The design process evolved through the materials themselves, allowing their character to shape space and detail. Sanjay PP Sanjay PP Sanjay PP With minimal site disturbance, passive cooling strategies, and preserved... More

Constructed on historic foundations of Soviet-era military units to safeguard the Baltic coastal dune habitats as one of the world’s most vulnerable marine regions, this seaside residence introduces an alternative path of sustainable architecture. The site was discovered with four grass-covered and timeworn military bunkers, now transformed into one main home and two guest houses for a family of three generations. Alvis Rozenbergs Alvis Rozenbergs Located on the Latvian coastline, where northern winds are strong enough to bend century-old pines to their will, summer home SAR was created as a sacred heaven for a multi-generational family. Alvis Rozenbergs Alvis Rozenbergs “In this project we wanted to explor... More

Forestone is a 20 m² experimental wooden dwelling designed and built by the 2025 cohort of IAAC’s Master in Ecological Architecture and Advanced Construction, as part of the Bio for Piri initiative. Led by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera and funded by the Biodiversity Foundation with European Next Generation funds, this initiative promotes regenerative forestry and the sustainable use of local timber from Pyrenean forests, specifically in Alinyà (Lleida). Located at MónNatura Sort, in the Pyrenees, the cabin sits on a sloping site just a few steps from the existing hostel, offering temporary accommodation for two people, with a sleeping area, workspace, and bathroom. Adrià Goula The cabin&rsquo... More

Located on an island near the water's edge, this all-season family cottage was designed as a private refuge, hidden from view while maintaining a strong connection to the raw beauty of its Muskoka, Ontario surroundings. An existing dock and boathouse—designed by the same architecture firm and widely published — continually draws curious boaters uncomfortably close to shore. This unintended attention has made privacy a key consideration for the design of the cottage. Studio Shai Gil Inspired by the simple, familiar image of floating docks along the Muskoka lakes, the cottage is envisioned as a series of planar elements — turned vertically to form walls and guardrails that slip past one another, and elevated horizontal... More

The projectThe Atrio House is a project for a integral reform of a village house in Burjassot, a municipality close to the city of Valencia. The location enjoys the tranquillity of a neighbourhood with history, close to services and parks that provide the property with quality. The pre-existenceThe original construction is a corner semi-detached single-family house dating from 1980. Its main façade is protected due to its great heritage value. It stands out for its modernist style and predominant light green colour with great ornamental detail, characteristic of the Valencian movement.The house has 150 m2 built and has a large volume with a gabled roof. Its maximum height reaches 6.5 metres and it is built with exposed wooden beams... More

Located on the edge of a forest in Germany’s Naab Valley, Komorebi takes its name from the Japanese term for ‘light filtered through leaves’. It embodies a quiet dialogue between architecture and nature. Conceived by QueckArchitektur as a low-lying black timber volume, the 19-metre-long house recedes into its wooded surroundings, respecting the landscape of hills, river, and forest that defines the region. Every aspect of its construction and performance reflects a restrained, sustainability-led approach that prioritises natural materials, passive strategies, and long-term ecological balance. Herbert Stolz QueckArchitektur   Material logic and construction Wood is both the structural and aesthetic foundat... More