Catalejo: A Sustainable Elevated House Blending with Nature in Limache, Chile

Redefining Sustainable Living

Catalejo, designed by Tololo Ugarte, is a stunning 80 m² residence in Limache, Chile, built in 2024. This architectural marvel celebrates sustainable elevated house design, seamlessly integrating with its unique natural surroundings. With a focus on minimal environmental impact and immersive living, Catalejo is a testament to modern eco-conscious architecture.

Site Context: A Dialogue with Nature

The Oasis of Ancient Trees

Catalejo’s design began with the site’s standout feature: a cluster of four 300-year-old quillayes and molles. These monumental trees provide a focal point for the residence, embodying permanence amidst the seasonal transformations of the surrounding fertile pasture.

Seasonal Shifts in the Landscape

The site’s environment alternates between a dry, desert-like summer and lush, vibrant vegetation in winter and spring. The house’s placement and design honor this dynamic, offering a floating sensation above the ever-changing greenery.

Architectural Features

Elevated Design for a Floating Effect

The house is elevated above the ground to allow vegetation to grow freely beneath, creating the illusion of a "vegetative lagoon." This approach enhances the feeling of lightness and minimizes land disruption.

Circular Form for Seamless Integration

The circular layout blurs boundaries between indoors and outdoors, making the landscape an extension of the living spaces. The house acts as a lens, framing and amplifying the natural surroundings.

Double-Height Spaces and Vaulted Ceilings

The interiors feature double-height rooms with vaulted ceilings, offering expansive views of the ancient trees and drawing the forest indoors. This design creates an immersive living experience, emphasizing a deep connection with nature.

Materiality: Merging Architecture with Context

Visual Mimesis with the Environment

Materials were selected to visually blend the house with its surroundings, minimizing its environmental footprint. This approach ensures the residence harmonizes with the landscape, preserving its natural beauty.

Living with Nature: An Experiential Approach

Landscape as an Active Element

Catalejo redefines the perception of space by transforming the natural environment into an active participant in the living experience. The interplay of light, shadow, and greenery invites residents to engage deeply with their surroundings.

Windows as Frames for the Landscape

Each window is a lens, framing dynamic views of the site. These framed perspectives foster a deeper awareness of nature, making every room a meditation on the landscape.

A Testament to Sustainable Design

Catalejo by Tololo Ugarte is more than a house—it’s an architectural experiment in sustainable elevated living. By harmonizing with its natural surroundings, the residence sets a precedent for eco-conscious design, where architecture and environment exist in constant dialogue.

All the photographs are work of Mauricio Duarte Arratia