The MINIMOD Catuçaba is a pair of prefabricated wooden cabins, designed by the Brazilian architecture firm MAPA and completed in 2015. Developed as part of MAPA's portable housing series, the MINIMODs were installed on a sprawling property in Catuçaba, near São Paulo, Brazil. The project serves as a contemporary reinterpretation of the primitive retreat, offering an immersive connection to the natural landscape. The cabins were constructed in a factory in an industrial town, transported over 150 km in separate modules, and then assembled on-site using crane trucks. This process highlights the efficiency and environmental responsibility of prefabricated construction. Each module is a 3x3x3 meter cube, built with cross-laminated timber (CLT) technology, a system that was unique in Brazil at the time. The two cabins were installed approximately 1,000 meters apart in different landscapes on the property, each adapting its spatial configuration to its specific location. The first MINIMOD, situated on a hilltop, adopts a cruciform layout, with each space oriented towards a different cardinal direction. This arrangement offers occupants a panoramic experience of the surrounding nature, from dawn to dusk. The second MINIMOD is placed discreetly near a small pond, turning its back to the access road. This linear configuration, parallel to the hill slope, integrates with the landscape and opens onto an expansive deck. Both cabins feature large windows that blur the line between interior and exterior, framing captivating views of the forests, lake, and mountains. The design prioritizes a minimalist aesthetic, with a compact and efficient layout. The simple yet elegant cabins act as "plug-and-play" devices, ready to connect with and be used in any remote setting. Credits Architects: MAPA (Luciano Andrades, Matías Carballal, Rochelle Castro, Andrés Gobba, Mauricio López, Silvio Machado) Project Team: Pablo Courreges, Diego Morera, Emiliano Lago, Mauricio Müller, Camilla Pereira Construction: CG Sistemas Hydraulic Project: Eng. Júlio César Troleis Electrical Project: Eng. Ari Martins Colares Photography: Leonardo Finotti