Refuge: when architecture protects us from the world

The world has once again turned its attention to war, forced displacement, and global instability, giving the concept of refuge a new relevance. The term, often associated with humanitarian camps and temporary structures, now reappears in architecture as an emotional response to a time of overload in residential and social spaces.

The idea of home as shelter is not new. From the first caves to post-war constructions, humans have always sought to create a space that would protect them from external threats. Today, millions of refugees are forced to survive far from home, while others move to new destinations due to climate change or in search of a better, different life.

At the same time, in this very world marked by overstimulation, the speed of modern life, and the scarcity of time to pause, there are those who choose isolation as a way to rediscover life’s meaning. In this context, refuge also becomes a mental, emotional, and spiritual place.

Whether for safety reasons or the need for introspection, the contemporary refuge takes on multiple forms — from an isolated cabin in the mountains to an urban home designed to welcome and protect. It is at this intersection that the work of several architects is positioned, seeking to create spaces capable of responding to humanity’s most basic need: to feel safe and at peace.

Sónia Aguiar: “Refuge is a feeling before it is a space”
For architect Sónia Aguiar, the notion of refuge is not limited to physical architecture. “The concept of a cabin or refuge is, above all, a feeling — more than a definition of physical space. It represents a place of retreat, simplicity, and connection with the essential.” It is the care in design, the intention in the project, and the search for a space that embraces the human being in all their stages that transforms a house into a true refuge.

In Portugal, regardless of scale or sophistication, there is an almost instinctive attention to creating spaces of comfort, warmth, and protection. “Whether in a simple country house or a contemporary villa, the essentials are always present: offering a place where one can simply exist,” explains the founder of LCAS studio, in Cascais.

António Costa Lima: “A 500 m² house can be a refuge”
A refuge does not always have to be small. Architect António Costa Lima explains that the size of a house does not invalidate its role as an emotional shelter. “Imagine a house with 500 square meters. How can it embody this concept of refuge? It depends on what the client asks for. In this case, we created circles of privacy — transitional zones that lead to the center of the house, which is the true refuge.”

António Costa Lima recalls that refuge can be present in very different contexts: from a chapel by a dam — conceived to offer introspection in a vast environment — to a small module for personal use by someone who owns other homes around the country. “We would all like to have a space with these characteristics to meet ourselves. It is this encounter that refuge proposes.”

Maria Fradinho: “Designing a house is creating a healing space”
With an architectural practice deeply connected to well-being, Maria Fradinho takes the concept of refuge even further. “For me, the concept of cabin/refuge presupposes a small-scale building. However, it can also be associated with a larger building, as long as it provides coziness, safety, and comfort.”

Natural materials, tranquil views, and interiors designed to promote serenity are some of the fundamental elements for Maria Fradinho. “Refuge should encourage tranquility and introspection, but also enhance moments of sharing and togetherness. Every time I design a home, I think of it as a space that responds to a deeply human need: to feel at home, both physically and emotionally.”

The leader of the Frari studio believes that Portuguese architecture, by its very essence, already carries this sense of spirituality and shelter. “The spirituality that architecture can foster will enhance our physical and emotional well-being. I believe that the architecture designed in Portugal anticipates this need.”

Jonas Lourenço: “Refuge is where we lay our hearts”
With almost poetic words, Jonas Lourenço sums up the concept: “A cabin is that place where you can be who you are, without filters. It can be a chalet high in the mountains, but also a corner of the house, a hammock in the shade, a bedroom filled with the scent of childhood.”

For the Brazilian architect, a true refuge does not need to be grand or far away. It needs to be authentic. “It is the space where the body rests and the spirit quiets. Every person should have a refuge-place, even if small, even if improvised. Because every human being needs a place where they can lay their heart.”

João Completo: “Architecture is what separates refuge from the outside world”
For young architect João Completo, the concept of refuge is closely tied to the very essence of architecture. “It translates into the ability, through elements such as walls, roofs, and spatial organization, to create a separation from the public exterior and provide inhabitants with a sense of privacy, protection, and comfort.”

An example of this approach is the Casa na Serra do Louro, where the concept of refuge was a fundamental premise of the project. “The house shields itself from the proximity of the street through patios that mediate and filter the relationship with the exterior, creating the feeling that, although the street is less than 10 meters from the interior space, its presence becomes imperceptible to those living inside.”

For the Setúbal-based architect, the true refuge does not need to be grand or distant. It must be authentic. “It is the space where the body rests and the spirit quiets. Every person should have a refuge-place, even if small, even if improvised. Because every human being needs a place where they can lay their heart.”