STARTING COUNTERPOINTS

The natural location, altitude valley-like topography, away from the village, 

represents a wonderful location. These advantages at the same time impose challenges for site-works, excavations and construction, on a 20° to 30° steep hillside, and a valley to bridge towards an elevated plateau at the other side.

To balance sensible and pragmatic sides, one initial key is to think about how site-works, excavation, foundation and relevant site-sourcing materials can happen.

Site-sourced stones and aggregates, available from excavations –garages mostly– are used for several components of the building and pathways that accompany approaches and journeys. Around 60 large trees are estimated as needed for the proposal site-sourced timber. Small trees are deemed to be re-located.

Re-forestation will take place as soon as possible. Once a tree is taken down and cut into 5 to 7,5 cm think boards, they will be submerged in the stream. The flowing water for 3 months will help to remove the resin and other microorganism’s ‘food’ the wood has. After it, boards will dry faster in open air, till reaching 15% humidity, ready to install in facades i.e. Timber varnish and protections should be essayed.

Architectural FORM is thus adopting a simple layout, since within this proposal, pragmatic

solutions rely on materiality to 'convey meaning and beauty', rather than in complex form

that would have extra financial demands.

Materiality acts as a key carrier.

Under that guidance, the rest of the project should find cohesive presence in what results 

a blend between simple architectural forms and renewed + preserved forests, encouraging a 

different rhythm, conversations, and discovery trails.