Waterfall Cabins
Type: Academic - Competition - Group
Semester: Summer 2020
Location: Amieira, Portugal
The Vale De Moses retreat is exposed to very contrasting climates - ranging from hot and dry summers to cold and rainy winters. The Waterfall Cabins reference these different seasons by having two modules for two types of meditation: the Dry Cabin and Wet Cabin.
The Dry Cabin seeks to connect the visitor to its surrounding natural environment through traditional treatments like massage beds and ample spaces for yoga. The Wet Cabin serves as a bath and spa where the visitor can meditate through direct connection with water while still being encompassed by nature.
Both cabins recollect and recycle rainwater through a system of slanted roofs that direct the water to the forebays below. Water serves as a phenomenological element that enhances the visitor’s meditation experience through sounds and freshness. The structural elements of the cabins reference trees. The roofs filter incoming light while beams, columns and stilts imitate the tree structure, thus creating a forest.
