IAAC ecological architecture students build a shelter that helps fight wildfires in the pyrenees

IAAC’s Forestone Timber Cabin Rooted in Pyrenean Forestry

Forestone Cabin is a 20-sqm experimental wooden dwelling designed and built by the 2025 cohort of IAAC – Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia’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.

The cabin’s 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’s 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 (焼杉) 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.

all images by Adrià Goula unless stated otherwise | full header image by Alexander Herbig

a student-built Prototype for Low-Impact Forest Habitation

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 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’s 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’s connection to its geographical and cultural context.

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 MónNatura Pirineu, in Planes de Son, offering visitors the opportunity to inhabit the prototype and experience firsthand its relationship with the landscape, materials, and climate.

Forestone Cabin is a 20-sqm experimental wooden dwelling in the Pyrenees

the cabin is located at MónNatura Sort on a sloping mountain site | image by Alexander Herbig

the cabin’s form is inspired by the rocky terrain of the surrounding landscape | image by Alexander Herbig

the cabin is part of the Bio for Piri initiative promoting regenerative forestry | image by Nina Poort

the exterior is clad in charred pine boards to improve durability and weather resistance

interior spaces are constructed entirely from custom CLT elements

all CLT components were designed and fabricated by IAAC’s Master students

a hand-carved stone washbasin was made from locally sourced rock

project info:

name: Forestone Cabin

designer: IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia | @iaacbcn

location: Pyrenees, Spain

directors: Vicente Guallart, Daniel Ibáñez, Michael Salka

students: Alexander Bruce Herbig, Ateet Singh, Atticus Cummings, Breno Teixeira Martinelli, Dammes de Zoeten, Georgia Ann Hoyer, Isabel Flores, Jasper Runge, Magdalena Kurdzialek, Nina Poort, Pragyna Madhav Thondapu, Reuben Diamond, Shivani Edukulla, Shanon Shahan, Santosh Shyamsundar, Sipan Celiker Sporidis

volunteers: Andrew Cardona, Grace Yang, Maeve Daley, Sam Hoshin

Valldaura manager: Laia Pifarré

project coordinator: Esin Aydemir

assisted by: Bruno Ganem, Oliver Needham, Alkis Avarkiotis

structural assembly: Fustes Sebastià (Sergi Sebastià, Emma Sebastià Sarroca, Estel Arnal Llunell), Tallfusta (Ignasi Caus, David Valldeoriola)

advisors: Miquel Rodriguez, Elena Orte, Guillermo Sevillano, Firas Safieddine, Rian van Dijk

host: MónNatura Pirineu, Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera

communication: Pati Núñez Agency

photographers: Adrià Goula | @adriagoulaphoto, Alexander Herbig, Nina Poort

with the support of: Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom