A slanted metal roof and deck help to shelter this cabin in Argentina, designed by STC Arquitectos using reclaimed materials like scrap metal and oil pipes.
Called
Refugio en La Paisanita, the cabin is in the Argentinian town of La
Paisanita on the Anisacate River and is nestled into a sloping, forested
site with winding stone walls. STC Arquitectos
said it designed the 60-square-metre project to be mindful of the
environment, using recycled materials and elevating it on stilts so it
doesn't damage the forest floor.
"In terrain with a steep slope
and vast vegetation located in the heart of Cordoba, Argentina, we find
this small refuge that respects the characteristics of the natural soil
and preserves the existing flora without altering the mountain
landscape," the studio said. Using disused materials also created a structure that was affordable to build and maintain, and weather resistant.
"The
project pursues an awareness speech about recycling, proposing a
sustainable solution that reuses different materials based on an
austere, economic and easy-to-maintain architecture that adapts to the
conditions of the site," STC Arquitectos added. The
cabin features a frame of metal pipes sourced from disused oil pipes
that are placed vertically and horizontally. A deck laid on top
comprises recovered eucalyptus boards.
"Disused materials were
recovered, processed in the workshop and transferred to the site for
assembly, the choice of materials and finishes combine technological
sustainability with a strong adaptation to the local climate and low
environmental impact," said STC Arquitectos. At the rear of the property, a concrete barrier wall nestles into the slope.
A
feature of the cabin is a large corrugated metal roof that slants
upwards in the opposite direction of the hill below. The metal panels
rest on a series of vertical pipes around the perimeter of the deck. The
roof creates a covered patio that wraps around the cabin in a U-shape
and also protects the smaller roof of the cabin itself, which is a boxy
construction clad in more metal panels. All of the metal sheets were
sourced from an old field shed or from demolitions and have a rusty
appearance. Windows
and glass doors with black frames puncture the three sides of the cabin
and can be covered by sliding doors also of corrugated metal. The
design allows for the dwelling to be closed off, depending on the
weather or if not being used.
Inside,
the unit accommodates a living room and kitchen, a bathroom and a
bedroom. Wood floors, white walls and recycled barn doors outfit the
minimal space, while openings are also made with scraps of pipes. Outside, the deck is complete with stools, two overhead lights and a reinforced concrete counter built into the barrier wall.
STC
Arquitectos is based a 30-minutes-drive north from the cabin in the
city of Alta Gracia and is led by Juan Salassa, Ivan Castañeda and
Santiago Tissot. Other cabins in South America are ZeroCabin in Chile, a black unit by Felipe Lago and Minimod Curucaca in Brazil, while the top ten cabins on Dezeen in 2019 included a shelter on the water in Norway and a silvery outpost in the Swiss Alps.
Photography is by Gonzalo Viramonte.
