Yoga Retreat

The project transforms a set of ruins on a 46.5-hectare rural property in Crato into a yoga retreat and low-density tourism development. The footprint of the new constructions is guided by the boundaries and geometry of the pre-existing structures, which remain as the physical framework and memory of the complex.

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The main building is rehabilitated and expanded to accommodate living and support spaces, organized around social areas with a direct relationship to the outdoors. The greenhouse emerges as a winter garden linked to the living room, functioning simultaneously as a habitable space and a passive thermal regulation device for the dwelling. A lightweight roof, akin to a pergola, establishes the transition and connection between the various built volumes, defining pathways and sheltered outdoor spaces.

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The shala and multipurpose room occupy two geodesic domes emerging from the central ruin, originally shaped like a figure eight. The triangular geometry distributes loads efficiently, allowing the creation of expansive spaces free from interior supports using a lightweight structure. The compact and aerodynamic form promotes wind resistance and a more uniform temperature distribution, while lateral and zenithal openings enhance natural lighting and ventilation.

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The materiality of the complex—stone, earth, wood, glass, and vegetation—establishes continuity between the built spaces and the landscape, articulating different scales of use, permanence, and connection with the outdoors.