agora's 'hut for the weekend' is pre-built of lightweight cork and OSB

spanish studio agora arquitectura sites its compact ‘hut for the weekend’ along a wooded, riverside camping area of catalonia’s pyrenees mountains. the design team crafts the dwelling as an expression of ‘self-built’ architecture, realized with a minimal material palette and designed with a simple construction which best respects the natural landscape context. the plan is laid out to best optimize the space with a highly efficient organization. private rooms are designed with a linear arrangement toward the rear side of the cabin-type structure while a single shared space opens outward toward the view with full-height shades.

images by joan casals pañella

using methods of pre-fabrication, agora arquitectura builds its ‘hut for the weekend’ in just 30 days. the strategy is employed to best optimize resources, limit on-site construction risks, save time and cost, and ensure precision. the volume is conceived as a single rectangular tube, durable against snow loads and able to withstand transportation. the interior layer is finished entirely with oriented strand board (OSB) panels, covering the walls, floors, and ceilings, as a continuous skin offering a warmth to contrast the cold and austere image of the exterior.

with its hut for the weekend, agora arquitectura generates thermal and acoustic insulation with the combination of expanded cork on the facade and OSB panels along the interiors. sourced from sustainable forests, the materials require a very low level of maintenance and can ultimately be completely recycled. with a light and dry structure, the total weight of the building is significantly reduced, easing the lift, transportation and manual effort during installation on the delicate site.