Soak Up the Surf at These Remote Timber Cabins on the Chilean Coast
Perched on a steep hillside, a pair of secluded oak cabins blend into the rugged landscape of Navidad, Chile.
These slender, stacked cabins by Santiago-based Croxatto & Opazo Arquitectos are shaped by a set of challenging constraints: a limited budget, steep slopes, and blustery coastal winds.
"It was an interesting exercise in how to propose good architecture with scarcity," says co-founder Felipe Croxatto. He and his partner, Nicolas Opazo, were commissioned by two young couples who sought to build neighboring, nature-focused holiday homes that could be rented out on Airbnb under the Maralto brand.
Located within walking distance to the coastal village of Matanzas, the two Maralto cabins are named La Loica and La Tagua after local bird species.
Cristobal Palma
Steep trails provide access to the beach. The famous kitesurfing beach Pupuya is a 10-minute drive away.
Cristobal Palma
Stay up to Date on the Latest in Tiny Homes
Discover small spaces filled with big ideas—from clever storage solutions to shape-shifting rooms.
To minimize costs for the foundations, Croxatto and Opazo built upwards by strategically stacking a series of timber cubes to optimize ocean views and protect against strong winds. "Since the footprint is small, we created a double-height space to expand the interior and make the building feel bigger than it appears," notes Croxatto. "This strategy makes it look like a great tower looking out over sea."
Both cabins are elevated on wooden pillars about 260 feet above sea level.
Cristobal Palma
"On the first floor, we decided to open the cabins up to views with a floor-to-ceiling window that connects the living area to the sea," explains Felipe Croxatto. "In the second-floor bedroom, we frame select views through smaller windows."
Cristobal Palma
One of the main challenges was getting materials to the steep hillside, which initially lacked road and utility access. In the beginning, the design team worked off-grid with a water tank and electric generator as they sourced three types of local timbers. "Matanzas produces wood, so it’s a very easy material to get at an affordable price," says Croxatto.
The 269-square-foot La Tagua cabin, seen on the left, is set downslope from the 204-square-foot La Loica cabin and is connected to the main road by three flights of stairs.
Cristobal Palma
"The biggest problem was the windows," says Croxatto. "They could only be installed on days without wind, and as you can see, the main facade doesn’t have a ledge—so they were inserted from the rooftop to their final position. This took many days to complete."
Cristobal Palma
The architects built the structures and supportive pillars from pressure-treated, chamber-dried pine, which they selected for its durability in coastal climates. The buildings are clad with panels made from reclaimed oak railroad ties treated with petroleum oil for protection against corrosion.
The petroleum-treated reclaimed oak cladding was selected for its corrosion resistance and its rustic look, which helps the cabins blend into their surroundings.
Cristobal Palma
The interior of each cabin is wrapped in light-colored pine treated with natural oil finishes. The layouts are also similar—each cabin has an open-plan living/dining/cooking space on the ground floor, with a lofted sleeping space above.
A wooden ladder leads up to the loft bedroom. A wood-burning stove provides heating.
Cristobal Palma
The bedroom in La Tagua faces views of the green slope to the south. The loft also includes a sheltered terrace and another small bed to the side.
Cristobal Palma
Shop the Look
DCW Editions Mantis BS1 B Floor Lamp
Born in Mainz, Germany, in 1924, Bernard Schottlander fled to England as a Jewish refugee in 1939. He worked as a welder for a short stint during the war before delving into sculpture at Leeds College of Art and the Anglo-French art center in St. John’s Wood. A year later, he went on to open his own design studio and began creating new pieces in limited editions. An admirer of Alexander Calder, the American sculptor perhaps best known as originator of the mobile, Schottlander created his Mantis Collection (1951) as an homage. Movement being intrinsic to his work, he devised clever adjustable frames constructed of strong yet flexible steel rods combined with counterweights. He then fabricated shades from aluminum using repoussé and chasing techniques, relying on his trained sculptor’s eye to produce beautifully flowing shapes that set the symmetrical and asymmetrical in opposition. His lamps – much like his idol’s mobiles – appear to defy gravity with their floating forms. Bulb (not included): LED, CFL or incandescent; E12 base; 40W max. This is the authentic Mantis Collection. Made in China.
ShopLyon Beton Hauteville Counter Chair
Sophisticated with an industrial touch, the Hauteville Bar Chair takes a modern design and gives it a noteworthy and distinguishing element. Constructed with a concrete shell and rebar legs, the chair's composition brings to light the unique qualities of industrial materials and repurposes the unpolished, raw materials to create a minimal and contemporary chair. Pair this chair with the rest of the Edge Collection for a more complete look or get creative and accent your arrangement with something a little more raw. Photo Courtesy of Lumens
ShopBlu Dot Thataway Sleeper Sofa
Whether you’re reading a good book or taking a snooze after a busy day at work, you’ll love retreating to the Thataway Sleeper Sofa by Blu Dot. Its contemporary beauty is defined by gorgeous curves and sweeping arms, while a polyester and linen blend offers a durable yet soft complement to the generous amount of high resiliency foam. For napping convenience, the seat cushion easily flips forward for extra room, making this sofa as versatile as it is comfortable.
ShopFloor-to-ceiling windows, large glazed doors, and north-facing terraces connect each cabin to the spectacular site. All construction for the cabins—including utility and road access—was completed on-site in eight months.
"Every time the clients go to the Matanzas Maralto Cabins, they call to congratulate us on the great experience we created," says Croxatto. "We look back and remember all the challenges we overcame to achieve this result, and it makes us very happy."
The outdoor terraces for both cabins face north for shelter against strong winds.
Cristobal Palma
The outdoor lighting is powered by solar energy.
Cristobal Palma
The cabins, which are available to rent on Airbnb, are outfitted with all the basic essentials needed for a private getaway.
Cristobal Palma
La Tagua axonometric diagram
La Tagua ground floor plan
La Tagua loft plan
La Tagua section
La Loica axonometric diagram
La Loica ground floor plan
La Loica loft plan
La Loica section
Related Reading:
Wake Up to Mountain Vistas in This Chic Chalet in Chile
A Patagonian Prefab Cabin Is Built to Withstand Volatile Climates
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Croxatto & Opazo Arquitectos / @croxatto_opazo_arquitectos
Builder/General Contractor: Croxatto & Opazo Arquitectos
Landscape Design: Croxatto & Opazo Arquitectos
Structural Engineer: Luis Della Valles
Published
Last Updated