cazu zegers arquitectura naturally shape tierra patagonia hotel

cazú zegers arquitectura naturally shape tierra patagonia hotel
photo by pia vergara
all images courtesy of cazú zegers arquitectura

cazú zegers arquitectura have developed ‘tierra patagonia hotel’ a resort located at the entrance of chile’s torres del paine national park. the structure sits on the shore of lake sarmiento, which in turn provides a stage for the rugged paine massif mountain range behind.

the structure is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible
photo by pia vergara

the project appears to emerge topographically from the ground, a horizontal volume rather than a vertical form, which would instead distract from the natural environment. it was agreed that the massif had to remain the focal point of the region.

the hotel in front of the paine massif
photo by morten andersen

as much of the landscape in this region has been physically shaped by the wind, cazú zegers arquitectura constructed the hotel to seem as just another dune, formed by nature, which would also be reminiscent of a fossil found on the shore.

the resort is clad in lenga wood which will age naturally over time
photo by pia vergara

completely clad in washed lenga wood, the exterior will age with a silvery sheen to give the appearance of an old timber house, worn away by winter.

internally the brief called for warm, intimate spaces, linked with internal pathways and corridors, which would starkly contrast the resort’s surroundings.

the design seeks to merge the structure with the landscape
photo by pia vergara

the design’s natural forms seek to merge the structure with the landscape, without interrupting or demystifying it, ensuring that the building remains as unobtrusive as possible.

the entrance of building at night
photo by pia vergara

photo by pia vergara

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project info:

author: cazú zegers
associated architects: rodrigo ferrer and roberto benavente
client: katari s.a.
general contractor: salfa corp
location: torres del paine, chile
completed: 2011
project area: 4,900 sqm (52,743 sqf)
function: hotel
façade: lenga wood
heating system: radiant floor heating
other technologies: termic efficiens