- Project: ZGZ
- Architect: iHouse
- Location: Uruguay, Blancarena, Colonia
- Year: 2020
- Area: 108 m2
- Photography: Aldo Lanzi
A Modular Refuge Between Forest and Countryside
In the quiet coastal-countryside of Blancarena, Uruguay, ZGZ by iHouse estudio redefines the modern retreat — a prefabricated modular home designed as a temporary refuge for rest and reconnection with nature.
Commissioned by a client living abroad, the project merges the warmth of traditional wooden cabins with the precision and efficiency of contemporary modular construction. Conceived as a balance between comfort, sustainability, and simplicity, the home offers a serene place to disconnect from urban life while remaining deeply rooted in the landscape.
Concept & Design Philosophy
The brief called for a rest home—cozy, compact, and durable—capable of providing the emotional warmth of a rural cabin while integrating the rational use of resources demanded by modern living.
Located on the threshold between native forest and small-town development, the project responds to a site defined by contrasts — wild and cultivated, rugged and domestic. Rather than camouflaging itself within the environment, the house asserts a distinct geometric purity, existing as an architectural artifact that coexists respectfully with its natural surroundings.
Modular Construction & Process
Due to the logistical and environmental challenges of on-site construction in such a remote, natural area, iHouse chose to prefabricate the entire structure in their production facility, where all projects are designed and built under controlled conditions.
This process offered multiple advantages:
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Quality control ensured through constant supervision by architects and technicians.
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Protection from climate variability, allowing uninterrupted, precise construction.
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Reduced environmental impact, eliminating site waste and minimizing heavy machinery use.
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Efficient transport and rapid installation, with final assembly completed in just days.
By consolidating the design and construction phases within one integrated process, the studio achieved a sustainable, efficient, and high-quality result, translating factory precision into architectural warmth.
Spatial Organization & Typology
ZGZ is composed of two prefabricated modules, joined along their longest sides to form a single rectangular volume. The first module houses all service areas — kitchen, bathrooms, and technical systems — while the second accommodates the living, dining, and bedroom spaces.
This linear organization creates a functional yet spatially fluid plan, where:
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Private areas are positioned at the ends of the house.
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Social spaces occupy the center, directly connected to the outdoors.
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Circulation is minimized to maximize usable floor area, emphasizing clarity and flow.
A fully glazed main façade opens to a covered gallery, extending the interior outward and framing panoramic views of the surrounding greenery. This flexible threshold between interior and exterior enhances both comfort and climatic adaptability.
Form, Materiality & Expression
Visually, the house stands as a pure, monolithic form — a contemporary interpretation of the archetypal cabin. Its minimalist geometry contrasts yet harmonizes with the organic landscape.
The materials reflect iHouse’s modern construction philosophy:
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Steel structure and modular panels ensure durability and structural precision.
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Wood finishes evoke warmth and familiarity, recalling vernacular cabins.
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Large glass openings establish direct, unfiltered contact with nature.
By maintaining a restrained palette and clear tectonic logic, ZGZ achieves a balance between modern design and rustic charm, technological rigor and sensory comfort.
Environmental Integration & Efficiency
The design demonstrates how prefabricated architecture can embody sustainability beyond aesthetics.
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Minimal site impact through off-site construction.
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Natural cross-ventilation through strategically placed openings.
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Thermal efficiency provided by modular insulation systems.
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Passive solar gain via north-facing glazing and overhang protection.
These features reduce the home’s ecological footprint while enhancing livability in Uruguay’s temperate coastal climate.
ZGZ by iHouse estudio is a thoughtful exploration of how modular design can foster harmony between innovation and nature. Through precise engineering, efficient prefabrication, and timeless simplicity, it reimagines the rural cabin as a contemporary refuge for modern life.
Poised between technology and tranquility, this small but sophisticated home reflects a broader architectural ethos: less construction, more connection.
Drawings
