Tucked away in the rainforest landscape near La Union in southern Chile is a small cabin called 3×3 Retreat. Estudio Diagonal Architects designed this tiny house to create a sense of cohesion between the structure's 'radical geometry' and the site's natural, organic essence. The architects also wanted the cabin to blend in with the surrounding forest, allowing the site's true beauty to shine through.
The cabin is intended to be a comfortable, cosy and functional dwelling in the virgin forest without disturbing or damaging its surroundings. Diagonal Architects carefully selected the location. Thanks to this thought process, the cabin sits on a hillside on the banks of the Rimado River, where the slope offers a picturesque view of the wilderness and the soothing sound of the flowing water.
The name was not chosen randomly either: it is the best way to describe this retreat, which, in effect, measures three by three metres. It also refers to the fact that the cabin has been divided into three sections. Moreover, it is 4.8 metres above the forest floor. The double height in the living area also materialises the idea of extending the space on the vertical axis. All in all, the entire structure has a total of 15 square metres inside and 9 square metres on the terrace.
The first section is the terrace, which is the cabin's access point and has the same floor plan dimensions as the interior perimeter. The terrace is presented as a counterpoint to the rest of the complex, creating a balanced relationship between the exterior and the interior, where meetings with friends, barbecues and outdoor relaxation take place.
The second section is the first floor, or "day floor", which includes the kitchen, dining room and living room, with a double-height front window offering breathtaking rainforest views and a heater to make your stay more pleasant on rainy days.
The third section is the second floor, or 'private floor', which houses the bedroom and bathroom. This section can only be accessed via a staircase to save space and make it more private.
While it is true that the cabin is small in size, it was also low-cost to build, as common, inexpensive building materials were used, such as standard pre-dimensional pine wood. As for the construction techniques, local techniques were used to showcase its functionality and sustainability. It has, therefore, become a peaceful and serene refuge that provides an oasis in a bold and dynamic forest.