Designed by Portuguese architect João Mendes Ribeiro, Chestnut House is a minimalist retreat located in the rural landscape of Valeflor, in northern Portugal. Completed in 2020, the compact, 25-square-meter cabin was constructed around a large, century-old chestnut tree, which served as the central inspiration for the project. To accommodate the tree, the cabin's geometry was modified and one side was angled inward, with large windows framing the tree's trunk and canopy. This unique design allows the building to exist in symbiosis with nature, with the house's life, textures, and colors reflecting the changes in seasons and weather. The project's philosophy was to create a "shelter" that was as unintrusive as possible, molding itself to the natural landscape rather than impacting it. The house is built on an elevated modular structure to avoid disturbing the tree's roots. The entire structure was built with certified pine wood, coated both inside and out with oriented strand boards (OSB). For insulation, layers of corkboard were applied, a sustainable material with a negative carbon footprint. The exterior is clad in thermo-modified wood and painted black to blend with the surroundings, while the interior features birch plywood on the walls, ceiling, and built-in furniture. The interior of the Chestnut House is a single, open-plan space, accommodating a living area, kitchen, and sleeping space, along with a small mezzanine for an extra bed. Full-height windows connect the interior with the surrounding woodland, and a wooden deck and a fireplace further blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. Credits Architect: João Mendes Ribeiro Project collaboration: Ana Maria Feijão, João Fôja, Catarina Fortuna, Dominika Van Eenbergen, Filipe Catarino, Joana Brandão, Pedro Teixeira Engineer and lighting design: Raul Serafim & Associados Photography: José Campos