amid a spanish olive grove, TEST builds a human shelter using lime, water, and earth

a human shelter in an olive grove by test

Barcelona-based practice TEST landed in Tarragona, Spain, to design a secluded human shelter nestled in an olive grove. Completed for Hodei Studio, an interdisciplinary group founded by two creatives, Araí and Mikel, the two-level structure takes shapes amid an earthly-rich site enveloped by a large carob tree, oozing silence and peace. This ideal pair-up encouraged Hodei to set up what they call their ‘refuge’. Taking to Instagram, the duo writes: ‘[This] is the space that shelters our world, that reconnects us with our essence, that houses different proposals to bring you closer to our universe.’

all images © Gregori Civera

adopting camouflaging strategies with natural materials

According to TEST (see more here), the refuge for Hodei Studio is the first in a network of shelters to be established in a protected area of olive groves in Tarragona. To maintain complete discretion amid the site, the architectural team has developed several camouflaging strategies for the refuge — namely through the choice of construction materials. The walls, for example, reveal a careful mixture of lime, water, and earth, while the openings are covered with metal sheets that imitate natural stone prints. 

a human shelter in an olive grove of Tarragona

a doorless living space with underground galleries

Stepping inside the human shelter, a main chamber on the ground floor appears just over 2.7 by 9 meters, expanding through a series of underground galleries that serve as water, food, energy, and waste storage. Complementing these features are two bedrooms, which TEST has divided over both levels (one downstairs and one upstairs). ‘Our Refugio does not have doors, it has curtains, which allow us to feel and see the fluidity of the space through the wind,’ adds Hodei Studio on Instagram. 

TEST built the structure using lime, water, and earth

using metal sheets that mimic stone prints

the project was completed for Hodei Studio

inside the main chamber, leading up to a private bedroom

creating a secluded refuge that brings in natural light

project info:

name: Human shelter in an olive grove 

location: Tarragona, Spain 

architect: TEST Barcelona 

client: Hodei Studio | @hodeistudio 

photographer: Gregori Civera | @gregori_civera

area: 40 sqm 

year: 2023