ZGZ | iHouse estudio | Blancarena, Colonia, Uruguay

Modular retreat between forest and countryside

In the quiet coastal-countryside area of Blancarena, Uruguay, ZGZ by iHouse estudio redefines modern leisure — it is a pre-fabricated modular structure, designed as a temporary refuge for relaxation and reconnecting with nature.

The project's client is a foreign resident. The design combines the warmth of traditional wooden cabins with the precision and efficiency of modern modular construction technology. Created as a balance between comfort, sustainability, and simplicity, this cabin offers a peaceful space to disconnect from urban life while remaining in harmony with nature.

Concept and Design Philosophy

The brief called for a restful cabin — cozy, compact and sturdy, capable of providing emotional warmth akin to a rural cabin, while integrating rational resource use required in modern life.

Situated at the boundary between the local forest and a small town, this cabin responds to site conditions defined by contrasts — wild and cultivated nature, rough and domestic. Rather than blending into the environment, it stands out with its clear geometric purity, existing as an architectural artifact that respectfully interacts with natural conditions.

Modular Construction and Process

Due to logistical and ecological challenges of on-site construction in such a remote, natural area, iHouse opted for pre-assembly of the entire structure in its production workshop, where all projects are designed and built under strict control.

This process offers several advantages:

• Quality control, ensured by constant supervision from architects and specialists.

• Protection from climate changes, enabling continuous and precise construction.

• Reduced environmental impact, eliminating waste and minimizing heavy machinery use.

• Efficient transportation and rapid installation, with final assembly completed in a few days.

By integrating design and construction into one seamless process, the studio achieved a sustainable, efficient, and high-quality result, transferring factory precision into architectural warmth.

Spatial Organization and Typology

ZGZ consists of two pre-assembled modules, joined along the long side to form a single rectangular volume. The first module contains all service spaces — kitchen, bathrooms and technical systems. The second houses the living, dining and sleeping areas.

The linear layout creates a functional yet spatially open plan, where:

• Private zones are located at the ends of the house.

• Public zones are in the center, directly connected to the street.

• Movement is minimized to maximize usable space, emphasizing clarity and flow.

The fully glazed main facade opens to a covered gallery, extending the interior space outdoors and creating panoramic views of surrounding greenery. This flexible boundary between inside and outside enhances comfort and climate adaptation.

Form, Material, and Expression

Visually, the house presents a clean monolithic form — a modern interpretation of the archetypal cabin. Its minimalist geometry contrasts but harmonizes with the organic landscape.

Materials reflect iHouse's contemporary construction philosophy:

• Steel frame and modular panels, ensuring structural strength and precision.

• Wooden finishes, conveying warmth and familiarity, reminiscent of traditional cabins.

• Large glass openings, offering direct contact with nature.

Maintaining a restrained palette and clear tectonic logic, ZGZ achieves a balance between modern design and rural atmosphere, technological rigor, and sensual comfort.

Integration with Environment and Efficiency

The design demonstrates how pre-fabricated architecture can embody sustainability not just visually.

• Minimal site impact due to external construction.

• Natural cross-ventilation, enabled by strategically placed openings.

• Thermal efficiency, provided by modular insulation systems.

• Passive solar heating, achieved through northern windows and shading.

These features reduce the home's ecological footprint, while simultaneously enhancing comfort in Uruguay’s moderate coastal climate.

ZGZ by iHouse estudio is a thoughtful exploration of how modular design can foster harmony between innovation and nature. Through precise planning, efficient assembly, and temporal simplicity, it redefines the rural cabin as a modern refuge for contemporary life.

Situated between technology and tranquility, this small yet elegant cabin reflects a broader architectural ideology: less construction, more connection.

Photo © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo Lanzi

Drawings

Photo © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo LanziPhoto © Aldo Lanzi