Pinohuacho, Villarica, Chile

This design of an observation deck is remarkable not only for its elegantly simple design… but also for the story behind it. The region has been shaped by years of slow recovery after a 1971 volcanic eruption. With the land losing its value, villagers have been forced to move to the city. Not wanting to lose his way of life, Miguel Vázquez talks to his father about the possibility of agrotourism, where the land will be carefully cultivated to be enjoyed by villagers and visitors alike. The whole family has begun to take part, as well as the rest of the village. Their intent is to create a landscape that embraces the natural environment, therefore the architectural designs need to reflect the surrounding countryside, as well as the traditional sustainable building materials and methods. It’s really a lovely project, with a lovely story… inspiring.

See more images and English texts describing the initiative at Arch Daily here; read about it as described by the architect (in Spanish, along with full drawings, erection photos, and videos) on Rodrigo Sheward Giordano’s blog here.