wooden shell wraps eco cabins by S-AR framing mexican valley views

Madriguera Eco Reserve Stays merge architecture with nature

Madriguera Eco Reserve Stays by S-AR is the first built component of Glampeer, a hospitality initiative that aims to integrate architecture into mountain-based nature tourism. Located within a forested area that opens onto a small valley in Sierra de Arteaga, Mexico, the project explores how built structures can frame and enhance the experience of the surrounding landscape.

This initial phase comprises two separate cabins, Cabaña Conejos and Cabaña Liebre, each designed with distinct spatial programs but unified by a consistent material palette including wood, concrete, steel, and glass. Positioned along the western edge of the site’s natural slope, both cabins are oriented to maximize views toward a nearby mountain range. Their siting leverages the terrain for unobstructed visual access to both the valley and the forested backdrop.

all images by Recording Architecture

S-AR Sets Cabaña Conejos and Cabaña Liebre on a forested slope

Cabaña Liebre is compact in scale, roughly equivalent to a standard tent footprint, yet incorporates full interior amenities including a bathroom and kitchen. The structure employs a hybrid system of concrete supports and steel framing, enclosed with thermally insulated wooden boards. A concrete volume containing the bathroom and storage is inserted into the larger wooden shell. A surrounding terrace provides exterior space, adaptable for temporary features such as a portable fireplace. Cabaña Conejos, the larger of the two, accommodates multiple functions including sleeping, cooking, dining, and living, with the capacity to adapt interior configurations based on occupancy needs. The building is constructed using load-bearing concrete block walls and lightweight concrete slab systems, clad externally with thermally insulated black-painted wooden boards. Interior surfaces include wood flooring with a natural finish and walls coated with a cement and black paint mixture. Additional features include a workspace, a balcony, a rooftop viewing platform, and multiple access terraces.

Both structures operate as contemporary interpretations of the mountain refuge typology, using material economy and structural clarity to establish a visual and spatial dialogue with their environment. Madriguera Eco Reserve Stays by S-AR Studio frame specific landscape views while maintaining compact footprints, prioritizing environmental responsiveness and architectural precision.

two cabins, Cabaña Conejos and Cabaña Liebre, anchor the project

set on a forested slope, the cabins open toward a small mountain valley

each cabin is oriented to frame views of the surrounding mountain range

Cabaña Liebre occupies the footprint of a standard tent with full interior amenities

Cabaña Conejos supports a range of living functions in a larger footprint

multiple terraces connect the interior to varied outdoor spaces

the cabins frame key landscape views without disrupting the terrain

interior surfaces feature natural wood floors and cement-finished walls

material economy and clear forms guide the architectural language

wooden insulation panels enclose the cabin, ensuring thermal comfort

each structure interprets the mountain refuge through contemporary design

project info:

name: Madriguera Eco Reserve Stays
architects: S-AR | @stacionarq

location: Sierra de Arteaga, Mexico

photographer: Recording Architecture | @recording.architecture

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