A Quarantine Hideaway Turns Into an Artist’s Dream Home

When the pandemic hit, Chris Saunders moved to a tiny home in Portugal and made it his own.

When artist Chris Saunders left Venice, California, and headed to Portugal for a two-week surf trip in 2020, he didn’t know he was going home. "Covid exploded overnight, and I was stuck here for about six months," he says. It turns out, Chris was right where he belongs.

After months of waiting for approvals to build a house in Sintra, Portugal, artist Chris Saunders decided to pivot, commissioning a custom tiny home on wheels from architecture studio Madeiguincho. The 200-square-foot house, with its honey-colored wood cladding and contrasting blond wood interior, suits Chris perfectly.
After months of waiting for approvals to build a house in Sintra, Portugal, artist Chris Saunders decided to pivot, commissioning a custom tiny home on wheels from architecture studio Madeiguincho. The 200-square-foot house, with its honey-colored wood cladding and contrasting blond wood interior, suits Chris perfectly.

He spent his six-month quarantine in Ericeira, a famous surf town about 45 minutes from Lisbon. Exploring the area around Sintra on his motorcycle, Chris discovered a region dotted with historic castles and palaces that tower on forested, mountainous terrain bordered by the Atlantic. "It’s like stepping into a fairy tale," he says. "I fell in love."

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Quarantine Hideaway Turns Into an Artist’s Dream Home
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