Architect Samuel Gonçalves of Porto-based Summary has developed a system for constructing prefabricated, modular structures from concrete—and the firm’s latest project is a series of 11 compact cabins in the woods of Paradinha, a small village in Alvarenga, Portugal.

“We considered the area’s natural and ancestral elements, and distributed the cabins according to the configuration of the land, altering the plot as little as possible,” says Gonçalves. “We preserved old stone walls and existing trees, some of them protected species, by carefully placing the cabins around them.”

This approach provided each cabin with a a different orientation—some overlook the Paiva River, while others face the rolling hills and towering oak and cork trees that populate the region. “The terrain is very hilly,” Gonçalves says. “It’s a quiet and peaceful forest, where you can hear the river all the time.”

Gonçalves’s Gomos System offered an ideal solution for Paradinha’s steep terrain. “It would’ve been extremely difficult and expensive to do traditional construction in the area,” he says. “This prompted us to use prefabrication.”

The system, which Gonçalves showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2016, produces concrete modules that can be linked together to create structures of various sizes.

“Each module leaves the factory ready, including all interior and exterior finishes, insulation, window frames, and water and electricity equipment,” Gonçalves says.

The Paradinha site, however, required a new module size. “Access was so limited that we were forced to divide each module into two,” Gonçalves says. These smaller modules are lighter and easier to transport by trucks and cranes. “Logistical aspects always play a central role in the design process, especially when we work with prefabrication in remote plots,” the architect says.

The smallest cabin measures 301 square feet, while the largest one is 624 square feet—and their concrete, Brutalist forms are as as practical as they are artful. “The concrete reduces the need for maintenance and painting, and they can withstand the area’s extreme climate conditions, which include cold and rainy winters and warm, dry summers,” Gonçalves says.

Summary offset the austerity of the concrete by layering a geometric pine brise-soleil over each cabin’s glazing. “The pine slats create shade for the balconies and cool the air before it enters the building,” the architect says.

The living areas feature wood flooring, while the kitchen and bathroom floors are finished with Portuguese ceramic tile. “To reduce labor, cost, and construction time, we used raw materials without too many finishes,” Gonçalves says.

The project was commissioned by Syntony Hotels, and the company initially requested requested a series of suites—but Gonçalves proposed small houses instead. Although the cabins serve a retreat today, in the future they can be sold and used as individual homes. “Flexibility was an important driving force for this design,” he concludes.

Related Reading:

Six Prefab Concrete Cabins Pop Up in the Foothills of Portugal

Project Credits:

Architecture: Summary / @__summary__

Construction: Farcimar S.A.

Structural and Civil Engineer: FTS Technical Solutions

Electrical Engineer: Arproj

Assembly: Arouconstroi

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11 Tiny Prefab Cabins Pop Up in the Woods of Portugal