“The concept of bringing a complete house in a trailer and locating it in a specific spot is a bit of an absurd utopia, especially in places like Colombia where the topography is wild and in constant transformation,” says industrial designer David Del Valle, founder of Tu Taller Design. Nevertheless, he and architect Amalia Ramírez set out to explore the possibilities of prefab with MH01, an approximately 1,250-square-foot home on the outskirts of Medellín that mixes traditional construction with premade elements.

Tu Taller Design custom-built the cabinets, kitchen island with integrated dish rack, and laser-cut dining table. Normann Cophenhagen bar stools slide under the island when not in use. " layout="" credit="Photo by Monica Barreneche" photoUserId="6765069443263983616"/>

The staircase, front door, and metal fittings for the pine ceiling beams were laser cut in the Tu Taller Design workshop and assembled on site. The team clad the exterior in black shingles and Superboard fiber cement panels; a mangium wood deck connects the home to the verdant surroundings.

The broad, silver-toned leaves of the yarumo tree, seen on the hillside, are emblematic of Colombia. The door and gray wood finish of the home’s Superboard cladding pick up on its hues." layout="" credit="Photo: Mónica Barreneche via El Buen Ojo" photoUserId=""/>

Del Valle and Ramírez also focused on creating a super efficient home. A clever Corian countertop with sliding elements on the kitchen island, for example, helps it work as both a dishwashing and drying station and reduces visual clutter in the open kitchen, living, and dining space.

Upstairs, modular and mobile organizers inspired by the multipurpose furniture found in architect Tadao Ando’s studio work as a mezzanine wall between the bedrooms and the first floor.

shingles, allowing the home to recede into the foliage." layout="bleed" credit="Photo: Monica Barreneche via El Buen Ojo" photoUserId=""/>

Though the home was completed in 2018, the idea of a modest country retreat feels more current than ever. “Back then, the idea of a pandemic that would trigger a massive migration to rural spaces never crossed our minds,” says Del Valle. “It was thanks to this first prototype that we were up and ready to help facilitate this change of lifestyle.”

Project Credits:

Architecture and Design: Amalia Ramírez, ar_ea / @ar_ea.estudiodearquitectura and David Del Valle, Tu Taller Design / @tutallerdesign

Construction: Tu Taller Design / @tutallerdesign

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A Colombian Cabin Uses Shingles as Camouflage in Its Tropical Setting