Occupying the ground floor, the communal spaces are clustered around a central terrace on the back that the living and dining rooms open onto. The terrace, along with a reflecting pool and a landscaped garden, acts as an intermediary zone between the interior spaces and the forest while the staggered position of the residences safeguards the occupants’ privacy and forges stronger ties with nature. On the upper floor, three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms enjoy sweeping views of the majestic pines while a fourth bedroom occupies a separate block on the ground level.

Apart from providing far-reaching views of the forest, the south-facing glazing also allows solar penetration that during the winter provides passive heating, part of a comprehensive sustainable design that also includes the use of thermal mass for cooling and heating, and the sourcing of local materials, namely bricks, wood and soil. The latter was extracted in situ during the excavation and was used to coat the exterior lending the buildings an earthy terracotta hue. The same warm tone also dominates the interiors where the exposed brick walls are perfectly complemented by the natural stone flooring, the exposed timber framework and the wooden built-in furnishings that range from cupboards and wardrobes, to benches, counters and headboards.

All in all, the minimalist interior décor and the homogeneity of the earthy hues bestow a soothing consistency that gently balances the deconstructive composition of the building blocks and harmoniously integrates their rectilinear geometry into the natural scenery.