London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 25, 2025

A Tiny, Prefab Cabin Soaks Up Riverside Views in Chile

A Tiny, Prefab Cabin Soaks Up Riverside Views in Chile

This temporary accommodation for traveling professors tilts toward the water like the bow of a boat.

Visiting professors at the Austral University of Chile in the province of Valdivia have more to look forward to than inspiring academic discussion-they also get the opportunity to stay in a purpose-built, architect-designed cabin overlooking the Calle-Calle River. The cabin is perched amidst educational and residential buildings, with a glass face that projects toward the water, giving occupants the impression that the cabin is afloat.



"At the moment of positioning the volume, the question was asked: What way of relating to the river do we want?" says architect Gabriel Felipe Westermeier Castillo. "A traditional one-or one that selects where and how this visual pleasure is obtained. Obviously, we selected the latter one."



The compact volume is split into two different levels. The entrance leads past a bathroom to a combined kitchen, dining, and living area, which is divided from the sleeping and study area in the front of the cabin by two large steps.

The steps also act as seating for the dining room table and conceal storage for nautical equipment that can be used for recreation in the river. "The cabin fulfills the basic functions of sporadically inhabiting, eating, sleeping, working, resting, and recreating," says Westermeier Castillo.



The cabin is primarily constructed from prefabricated metal plates that stand up to the rainy climate typical of areas in southern Chile. Inside, plywood cladding creates a cozy atmosphere and a feeling of refuge. This sense is heightened by the relationship between the interior and the river-the large glass wall allows occupants to feel as if they are floating on the water.



"There is a state of absolute contemplation through the bedroom and study," says Westermeier Castillo. "It’s a space that leads to calm, and it’s my favorite part of the cabin."



One of the firm’s biggest challenges was siting of the volume so that it didn’t obstruct views from the existing buildings. The cabin also needed to be extremely structurally stable, as the region is prone to earthquakes.



"The results of this project were better than they expected, and today the cabin is highly requested by visiting professors," says Westermeier Castillo. "As it’s a building for an educational center, it is important to put ideas on the table, to explore, and to dare to experiment with other ways of living."


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
×