Forestone: an ecological shelter in the Pyrenees

A shelter designed to help prevent wildfires in the forests of the Pyrenees: this is the concept behind Forestone, a timber micro-dwelling built by students of the Master in Ecological Architecture and Advanced Construction at IAAC (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) in Barcelona.

Forestone is a prototype developed within the framework of Bio for Piri, a European project focused on forest bioeconomy in the Pyrenees. It represents a virtuous example of integration between education, local industry, craftsmanship, and regenerative forestry.

Since January 2026, the cabin has been open to guests at MónNatura Pirineus, in Planes de Son, where it stands on a sloping site just steps from the existing hostel. The project offers temporary accommodation for two people—with a sleeping area, workspace, and bathroom—providing a direct experience of the site’s landscape, materials, and climate.

Promoted by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera and funded by the Biodiversity Foundation through European Next Generation funds, the initiative supports regenerative forestry and the sustainable use of local timber sourced from the forests of the Pyrenees, particularly in the Alinyà area, in the Catalan province of Lleida.

Forestone, an ecological refuge in the Pyrenees

Conceived as a stone block that appears to have rolled down the mountain and come to rest naturally on the site, Forestone encloses a space of just 20 sq. m. The structure and envelope were built using locally sourced cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and charred wood from nearby forests, referencing regenerative forestry in the Pyrenees—a mountain range whose name derives from the Greek word Pyros, meaning "fire".

Walls and roof are shaped with carefully studied inclinations responding to functional needs, climatic conditions, and solar exposure. This geometry modulates internal heights and spatial proportions to accommodate different uses within a compact footprint.

Carefully positioned openings frame views of the surrounding mountains and promote cross-ventilation. Natural light is regulated by operable wooden shutters, which ensure darkness at night and support the site’s astronomical activities.

While the exterior façade is clad in pine boards with natural edges, charred using the Japanese Yakisugi technique, the interior is equally defined by timber surfaces. Custom CLT elements—including the bed, built-in furniture, washbasin counter, and seating—create a continuous material environment. This material coherence reflects a vision in which architecture, structure, and furnishings form a single integrated system.

Education, local industry, craftsmanship, and regenerative forestry

IAAC students were not only responsible for the design of Forestone, but also actively participated in its construction. They collaborated with local shepherds to collect sheep’s wool, which was then washed, dried, and transformed into felt at Valldaura with the support of Dutch artist Rian van Dijk, producing blankets, rugs, and pillowcases for guests. The students also crafted the washbasin by carving a stone found on site.

Deeply rooted in its context, Forestone demonstrates how small-scale architecture can integrate into the landscape without disrupting existing ecosystems, offering a sustainable model for forest habitation aligned with long-term environmental stewardship.

The use of modular CLT components, dry-assembly techniques, and locally sourced materials enables the prototype to be adapted, replicated, or dismantled as needed. It proposes an approach to building in sensitive landscapes grounded in local resource use, knowledge transfer, and ecological responsibility.

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