Designed by Tomás de Iruarrizaga Arquitectos, the Refugio Calfuco is a 50-square-meter vertical cabin in the coastal Valdivian rainforest of Chile, completed in 2022. The cabin was built on slender concrete supports to minimize ground disturbance on its heavily forested site. With a small footprint measuring just 4 by 7 meters, the structure rises ten meters into the treetops to gain precious northern light, which is important in the humid, shadow-dappled environment. The cabin's exterior form is a sharply angled prism, designed to contrast with its organic surroundings. Constructed with traditional carpentry tools and techniques, the interior features warm, tactile laurel wood, which covers the walls, ceilings, and built-in furniture, reminiscent of a boat's cabin. A distinctive diagonal ridge beam creates a fishbone pattern overhead, adding to the architectural drama. The two-story layout cleverly maximizes every square centimeter, with bedrooms and a bathroom on the lower, more intimate level and an open-plan living and kitchen area on the upper level, offering panoramic views of the forest. Credits Architect: Tomás de Iruarrizaga Photography: Federico Cairoli Location: Valdivia, Chile