260 Square Feet of Tree House Is All a Portuguese Family Needs for the Summer

In the coastal town of Melides, Portugal, architecture and woodworking studio Madeiguincho recently completed a 260-square-foot tree house surrounded by towering, 100-year-old pines. Founder Gonçalo Marrote designed the tiny retreat, named Columba, for Maria Viegas Neves, who lives full-time in Porto and sought to build a place on her aunt’s property where she and her two school-age sons could spend their summers.

"My sons and I usually stay in different houses each summer," says Maria. "This year, we stayed at Columba—we’d watch the sunset from the roof, have a drink on the porch while preparing dinner, and when it would get chilly, we’d go inside where it was warm and cozy—it was perfect."

Wrapped in Japanese cedar, Columba features a lower level with a living area, a kitchen/dining area, and a bathroom. A wooden ladder leads to the upper level, where there’s a bedroom with a skylight and a door that opens to a rooftop deck. By elevating the structure, Marrote created space for a sheltered outdoor area. "We raised the main platform by about eight feet, creating a covered ground-level terrace beneath the house that allows for all types of usage," says Marrote.

The shade from the elevated structure joins the shadows of two pine trees near the house. "All of our decisions for the Columba tree house were made considering these two magnificent centenary pine trees—they were our main inspiration when it came to the design and construction."