In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions
In the forests of Gipuzkoa, a small hut with big ambitions
Text: Christine Holmes Photos: Biderbost Photo
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The architects at Babelstudio in Bilbao have spearheaded an ambitious renovation project in the heart of the Sierra de Aralar, transforming a 20m2 tool shed into a cosy pied-à-terre.
Bringing some great ideas to life in a (very) small space: is this the architecture of the future?
In recent years, images of small huts in the middle of nature have invaded social networks, blogs and magazines. In a world teeming with information, people and pressure, the need for nature has, for many, become insatiable. This is what brought a creative couple from Bilbao to the offices of Andrea García, Michael Schmidt and Andrea Emmanuel, founders of the architectural firm Babelstudio.
Owners of a tool shed nestling in a wood in the Sierra de Aralar, on the edge of Gipuzkoa, they aspired to turn it into a place where they could enjoy a well-deserved weekend break, where they could do odd jobs, rest after a hike and even spend the night. The cottage designed by Babelstudio reveals all the ingenuity required in the architecture of small spaces.
“The professionals at Babelstudio therefore had to ensure that no unusable spaces were created, that every square metre was optimised.”
An optimised space that preserves the heart and soul of a cabin from yesteryear.
“The hut was in a serious state of deterioration,” explain the architects. “The structure had stability issues and the building’s envelope was neither insulated nor weatherproof.” In order to comply with current standards, they had to rethink the materials and structure of the cabin, while retaining its original shape and volume in the aim of creating a habitable cabin of 20 m2, no more, no less. The challenge was an appealing one: at a time when space and budgets are increasingly limited, the architecture of small buildings is the one that gives the greatest freedom to inventiveness and creativity.
The professionals at Babelstudio therefore had to ensure that no unusable spaces were created, that every square metre was optimised. This resulted in two spaces of equivalent size: the first, a cosy living room/bedroom around a stove, with large bay windows offering a glimpse of the surrounding greenery. The second has a small dry toilet and a carpentry workshop that literally opens onto the forest, thanks to a large door that takes up the entire facade.
A project that blends into its environment
Another architectural challenge that is equally in tune with the times is renovation with the greatest respect for nature. To achieve this, the creative minds at Babelstudio chose to use local pine for the floors, beams and interior and exterior walls. The roof is made of corrugated iron. A “raw” look that is nevertheless jazzed up by the black paint on the entire exterior of the cabin, which gives the impression of both a contrast and a fusion with the surrounding nature.
With this mini-cabin in the forest of Gipuzkoa, Babelstudio responds to our growing need not just to do well, but to do even better. Is the future small?
