A Little Chilean Tree House That's One With the Canopy
Sited along a creek near the commune of Curacaví in Chile’s Santiago Metropolitan Region, “Quebrada House,” which translates to "ravine house" in English, is raised on slanted stilts and accessed via a bridge-like walkway with trees rising through its deck.
The stilts, or pilotis, helped reduce the construction impact on the land. From within, the elevated house looks out to the middle of the surrounding trees.
"Quebrada House" translates to Ravine House and speaks to how the design was inspired by the landscape.
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
Designed by Chilean firm UNarquitectura in response to a brief for a tree house, Quebrada House has a distinctive break through its center, which splits its interiors into a large section—holding the living area, dining room, and kitchen facilities—and another smaller section, where the bedroom and bathroom located.
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
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This divided arrangement provides a solution to the sloping plot, and also helps differentiate the private and public spaces within the house’s compact, 431-square-foot interior.
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
The split-level floor separates the living area from the bedroom, which is a few steps above a living and dining lounge that looks out to trees.
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
A predominantly white interior palette offers a beautiful contrast to the black-painted pine of the house’s facade and the dark wood deck.
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
From the kitchen and living-dining lounge, a large glass wall brings in plenty of sun and moonlight, frames stunning views of the surroundings, and connects the interiors with its arboreal environment.
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
Courtesy of Natalia Vial
Courtesy of UNarqitectura
Courtesy of UNarqitectura
Project Credits:
- Architecture: UNarqitectura
- Builder/general contractor: Manuel Rebolledo
- Structural and civil engineering: Guillermo Moreno
- Lighting: Opendark
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