Adaptation to the terrain without losing functionality. 11 cabins in the woods by Summary
21/07/2022.
[Paradinha] Portugal
metalocus, DIEGO DOMÍNGUEZ GONZÁLEZ
metalocus, DIEGO DOMÍNGUEZ GONZÁLEZ
Summary architecture studio, founded by Samuel Gonçalves, was commissioned to create a special housing complex. The complex is made up of 11 dwellings located on a wooded plot with a steep slope, whose layout is an efficient and sustainable option for the irregular and natural terrain that characterizes the Village of Paradinha, a very small town in the Paiva river basin located southeast of Porto, near Portugal.
Among these 11 dwellings, 4 different typologies have been proposed that can be 28 m² or 58 m². These prefabricated structures that function as tourist rooms allow adaptation to their natural environment, reducing their visual impact.
Among these 11 dwellings, 4 different typologies have been proposed that can be 28 m² or 58 m². These prefabricated structures that function as tourist rooms allow adaptation to their natural environment, reducing their visual impact.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
Site plan of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Ground floor plan of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Ground floor plan of the A typology of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Ground floor plan of the B typology of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Ground floor plan of the C typology of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Ground floor plan of the D typology of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Section of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Section of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Section of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Axonometric of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Axonometric of 11 cabins in the woods by Summary.
Summary designed a work paying special attention to the context, to minimize the environmental impact, trees and the former schist retaining walls were preserved also, preserving the original configuration of the land. Each one of the pieces (actually small self-sufficient houses) was proposed with a prefabricated structure (Gomos system) as the only efficient option to simplify the construction process.
The materials used are prefabricated concrete and glass, acquiring great prominence in the large windows that face the outside to offer light and enjoy nature. In this way, users can visualize the surrounding nature behind the wooden pieces that enclose the balconies, or the Paiva River that passes near the site.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.The materials used are prefabricated concrete and glass, acquiring great prominence in the large windows that face the outside to offer light and enjoy nature. In this way, users can visualize the surrounding nature behind the wooden pieces that enclose the balconies, or the Paiva River that passes near the site.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
11 cabins in the woods by Summary. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG.
Description of project by Summary
Considering the roughness and the remoteness of this plot it would be difficult (and extremely expensive) to assemble construction yards for a traditional building. Thus, in this case, resorting to prefabricated structures was not just a choice, but the only efficient option we had to simplify the building process within such conditions.
The initial commission was to distribute several touristic rooms over the terrain. However, we proposed small houses - not just rooms - so that some of them would be able to work as full-time houses rather than tourism units. Mixing these two different programs (tourism + housing) we ensure that this complex will not have a seasonal occupation, being inhabited during the whole year and not just in the vacation period. This multifunctional approach promotes the intensity of this complex’s occupation, therefore fostering its frequent maintenance and improving the security of the area.
This project was an opportunity to make new experiences within the Gomos building system: in each house, all the technical installations (water, electricity and climatization) were concentrated in just one module and extended to the other models externally. This procedure was standardly repeated in the whole project, accelerating its production/assembly process.
The project is composed of eleven small cabins, including four different typologies, from 28sqm to 58sqm. They are distributed across the plot according to the natural configuration of the terrain, altering it as little as possible. The old stone walls and the existing trees were preserved – the houses were carefully placed around them. Combining this apparently arbitrary positioning with different orientations allowed the houses not to block each other’s views. From the balconies, behind the wooden slats, we can see the forest and, in some cases, the river.
More information
Architects
Summary. Architect.- Samuel Gonçalves.
Proyect team
João Meira, Inês Vieira Rodrigues and Stelios Polyviou.
Collaborators
FTS Technical Solutions (building structures and networks).
ARproj (Electricity and communications).
ARproj (Electricity and communications).
Area
Plot.- 512 m².
4 different typologies, can be 28 m² or 58 m².
4 different typologies, can be 28 m² or 58 m².
Dates
From December 2018 to February 2021.
Location
Paradinha, Alvarenga - Arouca, Porto, Portugal.
Photography
Samuel Gonçalves. SUMMARY
SUMMARY is a young architecture practice based in the Science and Technology Park of University of Porto, in Portugal, founded by Samuel Gonçalves in 2015. Seeking the balance between pragmatism and experimentalism, this practice develops prefabricated systems addressing a prominent challenge of contemporary architecture – to accelerate and simplify the building processes.
The practice is led by Samuel Gonçalves (architect | founder), João Meira (architect | project manager), Adina Staicu (architect) and Luca Sabbadini (architect |VR programmer).
The practice is led by Samuel Gonçalves (architect | founder), João Meira (architect | project manager), Adina Staicu (architect) and Luca Sabbadini (architect |VR programmer).
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