Carupa House: High Mountain Refuge by Bermúdez Arquitectos

Sustainable Architecture in the High Andes

A Prefabricated Mountain Retreat in Carmen de Carupa, Colombia

Nestled within a private nature reserve at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level, Carupa House by Bermúdez Arquitectos is a stunning example of sustainable mountain architecture. Designed as a high-altitude refuge, this contemporary residence harmonizes with the tropical high mountain climate while minimizing its environmental impact.

Climate-Responsive Design

Located in a sub-páramo ecosystem—an intermediate zone between the páramo and high Andean forest—the residence endures extreme daily temperature fluctuations from 0°C to 21°C. The design addresses these challenges through a combination of passive heating strategies and a carefully engineered thermal envelope.

Sustainable Prefabrication and Minimal Environmental Impact

Efficient Prefabricated Construction

The Carupa House was constructed using a dry prefabricated system, reducing the environmental footprint and ensuring rapid assembly. Key features include:

• Steel framing system: A lightweight yet robust structure providing excellent stability.
• Minimal concrete usage: Only 15 foundation dies required wet processes.
• Dry assembly technique: Components were pre-assembled and cut off-site, ensuring minimal site disruption.

Modular Layout for Adaptability

Following a 4m x 4m modular grid, the house integrates essential living spaces:

• Bedroom, kitchen, living room, and dining area within the main modules.
• A 2m x 4m strip dedicated to the bathroom and social space expansion.
• A rectangular layout capped with a distinctive sawtooth-shaped roof, enhancing ventilation and light penetration.

This modular approach allows for future expansion, enabling additional rooms and outdoor areas as needed.

Passive Solar Heating and Thermal Insulation

Optimized Thermal Envelope

The house envelope is meticulously designed for maximum thermal comfort without relying on energy-intensive heating. The insulation strategy includes:

• Strategic window orientation to capture morning sunlight and maximize solar radiation.
• Multi-layered insulation: Expanded polystyrene and rock wool prevent heat loss.
• Vapor barrier and metal sheet roofing to maintain interior warmth.
• Thermal break windows allowing large openings without compromising insulation.

Contextual Aesthetic and Materiality

A Subtle Presence in the Landscape

The exterior facade features stapled metal tiles, oven-painted in a navy blue hue. This color blends seamlessly with the surrounding high Andean forest, ensuring a minimal visual impact while avoiding a military-style camouflage.

Warm and Inviting Interiors

Contrasting with the austere, cold exterior, the interiors exude warmth through OSB wood paneling and vinyl flooring, fostering a cozy, domestic atmosphere amidst the rugged mountain environment.

A Model for Sustainable High-Altitude Living

Carupa House stands as a benchmark for eco-friendly mountain retreats, merging modular prefabrication, passive design, and contextual aesthetics. Through low-impact construction techniques and thermal efficiency, this project exemplifies sustainable architecture in extreme climates.

All Photographs are works of  Bé estudio