{"id":411776,"date":"2026-02-06T21:09:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/411776\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T21:09:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:09:10","slug":"an-ecological-shelter-by-iaac-embedded-in-the-pyrenees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/411776\/","title":{"rendered":"an ecological shelter by iaac embedded in the pyrenees"},"content":{"rendered":"

IAAC\u2019s Forestone Timber Cabin Rooted in Pyrenean Forestry<\/p>\n

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Forestone Cabin is a 20-sqm<\/a> experimental wooden<\/a> dwelling designed and built by the 2025 cohort of IAAC \u2013 Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia<\/a>\u2019s Master in Ecological Architecture and Advanced Construction, as part of the Bio for Piri initiative. Led by the Fundaci\u00f3 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 Aliny\u00e0 (Lleida)<\/a>. Located at M\u00f3nNatura Sort, in the Pyrenees, the cabin<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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The cabin\u2019s sculptural form is inspired by the rocky terrain of the Pyrenees. Conceived as a block of stone that appears to have rolled down the mountain and come to rest naturally on the site, its faceted geometry is composed of inclined walls and a sloping roof that respond to programmatic needs, climatic conditions, and solar exposure. The geometry subtly adjusts ceiling heights and spatial proportions to accommodate different uses within a compact footprint, while carefully positioned openings frame views of the surrounding mountains and enable cross-ventilation. Operable wooden shutters ensure complete darkness at night, preventing light pollution and supporting the site\u2019s astronomical activities. The exterior facade is made of pine boards with natural edges that have been charred following the Japanese Yakisugi or Shou Sugi Ban (\u713c\u6749) technique, which involves burning the surface layer of the wood to protect it from insects, water, fire, and mold. These boards, cut to size and charred by the students themselves, not only increase the durability of the material but also symbolically evoke fire management and prevention, an essential aspect of regenerative forestry in the Pyrenees, the mountain range that separates Spain and France, and whose name, Pyros, comes from Greek and means fire.<\/p>\n

\"IAAC
all images by Adri\u00e0 Goula unless stated otherwise | full header image by Alexander Herbig<\/p>\n

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a student-built\u00a0Prototype for Low-Impact Forest Habitation<\/p>\n

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Inside, the cabin becomes a fully integrated wooden space. Custom-made CLT elements, including the bed, built-in furniture, washbasin counter, and seating, were designed and fabricated by IAAC students<\/a> at Valldaura Labs, reinforcing a hands-on approach in which architecture, structure, and furniture form a single material system. The cycles of local materials extend beyond wood. During an annual wool festival in the nearby town of Sort, students collaborated with local farmers to collect sheep\u2019s wool, which was later washed, dried, and transformed into felt at Valldaura, with the help and support of Dutch artist Rian van Dijk. The resulting blankets, rugs, and pillowcases furnish the cabin, integrating local craftsmanship and agricultural by-products into the project. On the same visit, students brought back a stone from the surrounding landscape, which they manually carved using power tools to create a unique washbasin, further consolidating the project\u2019s connection to its geographical and cultural context.<\/p>\n

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From the outset, the project was conceived with an emphasis on replicability. Forestone was designed as a prototype demonstrating how small-scale architecture can be built using local timber, regional knowledge, and low-impact construction methods, while inhabiting forest landscapes without altering existing ecosystems. The use of modular CLT elements, dry-assembly techniques, and locally available materials allows the cabin to be adapted, replicated, or dismantled as needed, offering a model of sustainable forest habitation that aligns architectural production with long-term environmental stewardship. Forestone exemplifies the integration of education, local industry, craftsmanship, and regenerative forestry. Through its careful detailing, layered construction, and deep connection to place, the project proposes an alternative approach to building in sensitive landscapes, grounded in local resources, knowledge transfer, and ecological responsibility. From January 2026, the cabin is open to guests at M\u00f3nNatura Pirineu, in Planes de Son, offering visitors the opportunity to inhabit the prototype and experience firsthand its relationship with the landscape, materials, and climate.<\/p>\n

\"IAAC
Forestone Cabin is a 20-sqm experimental wooden dwelling in the Pyrenees<\/p>\n

\"IAAC
the cabin is located at M\u00f3nNatura Sort on a sloping mountain site | image by Alexander Herbig<\/p>\n

\"IAAC
the cabin\u2019s form is inspired by the rocky terrain of the surrounding landscape | image by Alexander Herbig<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"IAAC\u2019s Forestone Timber Cabin Rooted in Pyrenean Forestry \u00a0 Forestone Cabin is a 20-sqm experimental wooden dwelling designed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":411777,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[11125,6225,6485,6486,26797,1120,96,14639,50212,56,54,55,18001],"class_list":{"0":"post-411776","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-architecture-in-spain","9":"tag-arts","10":"tag-arts-and-design","11":"tag-artsanddesign","12":"tag-cabin-architecture-and-design","13":"tag-design","14":"tag-entertainment","15":"tag-iaac","16":"tag-spaces-under-50-sqm","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom","19":"tag-unitedkingdom","20":"tag-wood-and-timber-architecture-and-design"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=411776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411776\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/411777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}