Floor Plans
About Max Núñez Arquitectos
| Project | Casa en los Árboles |
| Architects | Max Núñez Arquitectos |
| Builder | Mauricio Urzua |
| Structural Engineering | Jorge Tobar |
| Area | 110 m² (1,185 ft²) one module |
| Photography | Cristóbal Palma |
| Location | Chile |
| Year | 2023 |
The Chilean firm Max Núñez Arquitectos designed a prefabricated steel residence elevated on columns in the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Chile, drawing comparisons to a “lunar lander.”
Named Casa en los Árboles (House in the Trees), the project was finalized in 2023 on the edge of Conguillío National Park in the Andes. Situated near the active volcanoes Llaima and Lonquimay, the 110-square-metre (1,185-square-foot) dwelling occupies a spot favored for backcountry skiing among forests of araucarias, coihues, raulíes, and oaks.
According to the architects, “A home in this setting should be extremely light, interfering as little as possible with the surrounding vegetation and leaving only a minimal footprint. It must stand apart from its environment yet remain entirely site-specific, like NASA’s lunar lander.”
The vertical structure stands in a small clearing, elevated on a steel frame that avoids tree removal or altering the terrain. Thanks to prefabricated steel parts, a small crew was able to assemble the building within just a few months.
Each of the three floors employs a unique structural solution tailored to its use.
Ground floor: A compact rectangle supported by four diagonal steel columns that fan outward to support the levels above. The central core, wrapped in translucent glass, houses the entrance and storage for outdoor gear.
Second floor: Extends horizontally to create deep overhangs, protecting the ground level from snow. A lattice beam circles this floor “like a bridge resting on the diagonals below,” enabling the compact placement of three bedrooms and two bathrooms around the central staircase.
Top floor: Positioned 12 metres (40 feet) above the ground, this open level accommodates the kitchen and living area beneath a dramatic A-frame roof. The roof ridge is deliberately rotated diagonally, opening up the corners to the surrounding landscape.
This configuration creates a strong bond with the environment, offering panoramic views and the feel of a watchtower suspended above the forest, closely tied to nature and the passage of time.
On the exterior, steep metal roofing dominates, while uncovered sections are filled with floor-to-ceiling glass. Inside, warm wooden finishes contrast with the crisp steel detailing, bringing balance between comfort and modern precision.
Floor Plans
About Max Núñez Arquitectos
Max Núñez Arquitectos is an architectural firm based in Santiago, Chile, founded in 2010. It has developed various public and private projects both in Chile and abroad. Its work has been recognized with the 2017 Design Vanguard Award from Architectural Record and the 2013, 2018, and 2020 Design Award from Wallpaper Magazine. It has won several public competitions, including the design for the Atacama Regional Museum (Copiapó), the Visitor Centers for Laguna San Rafael National Park, the Jeinimeni Reserve (Aysén), and the Los Ríos Regional Library, Archive, and Repository (Valdivia). His projects have been published in various international media, including: A+U (Japan), GA (Japan), Mark (Netherlands), Wallpaper (England), Architectural Record (USA), PLOT (Argentina), 2G (Spain), Baumeister (Germany), Interni (Italy), and he has been the subject of two monographic publications: "Max Núñez Arquitectos, Pista de Despegue" (Takeoff Runway), published by Editorial Constructo, Chile, 2015, and "Max Núñez Arquitectos, Colección de Ideas" (Collection of Ideas), published by Editorial ARQ, Chile, 2018.
Recognitions
2024 - Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, Outstanding Project / Hogar Aleman
2023 - Archdaily Award Building of the Year / Casa de Vidrio
2022 - Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, Nomination / Casa de Vidrio
2018 - Wallpaper Magazine Award, Best New Private House / Casa Ghat
2017 - Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize 2017, Nomination / Casa Ghat
2017 - Architectural Record Magazine, Design Vanguard Award / Max Nunez
2015 - Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, Nomination / MAD Building
2013 - Wallpaper Magazine Award, Best New Private House / Casa 10x10
Founding Partner
Max Nunez Bancalari
Architect and Master of Architecture from the Catholic University of Chile in 2004. In 2010, he earned an MSc in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University, New York, where he received the Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize and the William Ware Prize for Excellence in Design. Between 2005 and 2010, he worked in association with Nicolás del Río at dRN Arquitectos, and since 2010, he has directed Max Núñez Arquitectos. He has been invited to present his work at various biennials and universities in Chile, the Americas, and Europe. In parallel to his professional work, between 2016 and 2020, he was Program Head of the Master's Program in Architecture at the Catholic University, where he regularly teaches at the Studio. In 2018 and 2019, he was a visiting professor at the IUAV University of Venice, Italy.
Partner
Stefano Rolla
He graduated as an Architect from the Milan Polytechnic in 2005, with a thesis developed in collaboration with the University of Buenos Aires. Since 2006, he has lived and worked in Chile, both independently and collaborating with various architectural firms, including Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados and Max Núñez Arquitectos. He is currently a professor at Studio IV at the Universidad San Sebastián and has taught Theory, History, and Criticism of Architecture at the Catholic University of Chile. Since 2018, he has been a partner at Max Núñez Arquitectos.
| Address | Andrés de Fuenzalida 17, 7510080 Providencia, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile | |
| Phone | +56 2 2233 4134 | |
| contacto@mnaa.cl | ||
| Website | https://new.mnaa.cl |
Casa en los Árboles - Prefabricated Steel House Built on Four Concrete Foundation Columns, Chile