La Cabañita

The renovation of a 1965 wooden cabin has resulted in a home that reimagines the idea of space and erases the borders between interior and exterior

In the outskirts of Guatemala City, a small cabin stood alone in a sea of dense, wooded terrain. Originally built in 1965, the surrounding forest had transformed and so had the needs of the owner. With the desire for more space and greater connection to the outside environment, the owner requested Alejandro Paz of Paz Arquitectura to renovate the existing hut while preserving its historic architectural beauty.

The original structure was built on a cantilevered platform with a triangular joist steel frame that allowed the long overhang over the mountain’s slope. The space included only a small social area, kitchen and small bedroom. 30 years later, the owner’s current lifestyle ordered for more formal spaces, as well as an increased desire to make the surrounding vegetation an important element of the home.

Nicknamed La Cabañita by the architect, two modules were added to either side of the existing cabin. Alejandro specifically chose not to position the modules parallel to one another as to harmonise with the sporadic qualities of the forest. To join each module, a transparent corridor was built to emphasize the connection with the exterior wooded terrain, as well as allow occupants to enjoy the architecture of each module from various points of view as they walked through the home. Inspired by the pre-existing architectural object, Alejandro also chose to use the same roofing angle on the new modules as was used for the original cabin, but reversed it. This gave value to the cabin while also allowing the new modules their own identity.

The choice of construction materials also considered the integration of the exterior space. A palette of steel, wood and glass allowed coherence between the new and existing structures, as well as the wooded forest. Each module was also complemented by an exterior platform that’s larger than the interior space, in order to encourage inhabitants to participate in outdoor activities and enjoy mother nature. All the exterior platforms are also connected, so one can walk around in a cyclic and spontaneous pattern.

La Cabañita is clever renovation that creates new, modern spaces while still paying homage to historical architecture and precious natural elements. The result is a modern treehouse that reimagines the idea of proportion and space, focusing on erasing the borders between interior and exterior using various components of design and architecture.

La Cabañita

Location
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Architects
Paz Arquitectura – Alejandro Paz

For more information, visit PAZ ARQUITECTURA.