# Spacious Forest Vacation Retreats The New Casa El Pinar is Made from Stone and Laminated Timber By Amy Duong | Published 2022-11-10 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-el-pinar References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2022/11/08/cf-tall-merodio-arquitectos-valle-de-bravo-laminated-timber/) & [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/tag/valle-de-bravo/)  VF [Taller de Arquitectura](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/los-helechos) works together with Merodio Arquitectos to create a vacation home in the form of the Casa El Pinar. It is set in the [surrounding forests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kw-house) in Valle de Bravo, which is a beautiful vacation destination that is along lake Avandaro outside of Mexico City. The design studios talk about the new design, stating "The constant visual connection with the forest, as well as the quiet it provides, contributes to the tranquil atmosphere of the space [...] A stone staircase, almost hiding in plain sight against the basement wall, leads to the main door." The home can be accessed by a staircase that leads up with [rough-cut stone](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-quinto-sol) to create the plinth of the house. Image Credit: CF Taller de Arquitectura, Merodio Arquitectos ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 31% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 13% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Forest Retreat Architecture:** The trend of creating vacation homes that blend with surrounding forests by using natural materials such as stone and timber. - **Tranquil Vacation Destinations:** The trend of vacationers seeking locations that provide visual connections with nature and offer a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. - **Sustainable Vacation Homes:** The trend of using eco-friendly construction methods and materials to design vacation homes that minimize their environmental impact. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture:** There is an opportunity to design more vacation homes that blend with natural surroundings and incorporate sustainable building practices to reduce the carbon footprint of leisure travel. - **Travel and Tourism:** Tourism businesses can tap into the trend of travelers seeking tranquil nature-based retreats by promoting vacation destinations that are off the beaten path and offer immersive experiences in natural surroundings. - **Eco-friendly Building Materials:** With the trend of sustainable vacation homes gaining popularity, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly building materials such as stone and laminated timber that can blend seamlessly with natural landscapes while reducing carbon emissions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [A-Frame Forest Tranquil Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prez-palacios-arquitectos-asociados.md) - [Light-CelebratingTwo-Storey Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-tres-rboles.md) - [Elevated Mountain Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-cadree-perche.md) - [Landscape-Integrated Hill Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-av.md) - [Scenic Holiday Residential Complexes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/los-helechos.md) - [Modern Minimal Concrete Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/copas.md) - [Coastal Timber Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-guaec-project.md) - [Countryside Woodland Cabin Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aralar-cottage.md) - [Nature-Preserving Mexican Lake Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-santa-maria-del-oro.md)