Architecture

Green-roofed cabin fits neatly into the forest

Green-roofed cabin fits neatly into the forest
The Curucaca is located in a small forest clearing in southern Brazil
The Curucaca is located in a small forest clearing in southern Brazil
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The Curucaca blends in with the Brazilian forest remarkably well
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The Curucaca blends in with the Brazilian forest remarkably well 
The Curucaca has generous glazing
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The Curucaca has generous glazing
The Curucaca's interior is finished in natural wood
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The Curucaca's interior is finished in natural wood
The Curucaca is located in a small forest clearing
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The Curucaca is located in a small forest clearing
The Curucaca is raised on stilts
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The Curucaca is raised on stilts
The biggest challenge of the project was transporting the Curucaca to the forest and assembling it
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The biggest challenge of the project was transporting the Curucaca to the forest and assembling it
Most of the Curucaca's interior is taken up by a living/dining area
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Most of the Curucaca's interior is taken up by a living/dining area
The Curucaca is raised on stilts
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The Curucaca is raised on stilts 
The Curucaca's interior measures 90 sq m (968 sq ft)
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The Curucaca's interior measures 90 sq m (968 sq ft)
The Curucaca's bedrooms feature expansive glazing
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The Curucaca's bedrooms feature expansive glazing
The Curucaca is heated with a small wood burner
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The Curucaca is heated with a small wood burner 
The Curucaca is located in a small forest clearing in southern Brazil
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The Curucaca is located in a small forest clearing in southern Brazil
The Curucaca is finished in black timber
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The Curucaca is finished in black timber 
The Curucaca is topped by a green roof
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The Curucaca is topped by a green roof 
The Curucaca is situated in a small forest clearing
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The Curucaca is situated in a small forest clearing 
The Curucaca is raised on stilts
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The Curucaca is raised on stilts 
The Curucaca is located in a rural area of southern Brazil
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The Curucaca is located in a rural area of southern Brazil 
Presumably privacy isn't a concern, given the Curucaca's rural location
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Presumably privacy isn't a concern, given the Curucaca's rural location
The Curucaca was completed in late 2018
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The Curucaca was completed in late 2018
View gallery - 19 images

MAPA Architects has been producing its Minimod line of prefabricated homes for several years now. The firm's latest project involved it overcoming difficult conditions in southern Brazil to install an appealing green-roofed retreat in the forest.

The Curucaca, named after the valley it's located in, is constructed from CLT (cross-laminated timber) and raised on stilts a little above the ground. Its exterior is finished in black timber and the home is topped by a green roof, which really does help it blend in, especially when seen from above.

The Curucaca blends in with the Brazilian forest remarkably well
The Curucaca blends in with the Brazilian forest remarkably well 

A representative from Brazil and Uruguay-based MAPA Architects told us that the biggest challenge of the project was the location of the plot. It's located in a small clearing within a dense rainforest and required the firm to work in difficult conditions while trying to ensure that the surrounding forest wasn't unduly disturbed.

"The Curucaca Valley is located in the mountainous region of southern Brazil," says MAPA Architects. "The landscape is marked by intense visual and rugged topography, covered by vegetation typical of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The Minimod lies in a clearing in the middle of this dense forest landscape, near a steep gorge that offers an imposing view of the valley."

The Curucaca has generous glazing
The Curucaca has generous glazing

The interior of the Curucaca measures a total of 90 sq m (968 sq ft) and is spread over one floor. It features very generous glazing, even in the bathrooms – presumably privacy isn't an issue in such a rural location – and has a simple wood finish inside.

A large central living and dining area takes up most of the available floorspace, which contains a wood-burning stove, a sofa, a kitchen area, and a dining table. A bedroom and an adjoining bathroom are located on each side of this area and the home also opens up to a couple of small covered porches with sliding glass doors.

The Curucaca was completed in late 2018.

Source: MAPA Architects

View gallery - 19 images
2 comments
2 comments
Fletcher
Interested to know if this was a prefab construction and if so how they did it. It looks like 3 cargo ship containers, heavily modified, then placed side by side, to make a single structure.
ljaques
Kinda cute. Having the same walls, ceilings, and floor wood would be a real drag, but that could be addressed by the owner before the build. Why it's important to make your roof sort of blend in with the super rural Brazilian jungle is beyond me, though. So what if 2 or 3 helicopters a decade see it? The birds and monkeys don't care.