Artful Vaulted Micro Houses

The Catalejo House is a micro-house by Tololo Ugarte located in Limache, Chile, within a landscape of centuries-old quillay and molle trees. Conceived as a "spyglass" residence, the project is organized beneath a circular vaulted roof constructed from steel and timber that creates a double-height interior. Large openings frame changing views of the surrounding vegetation, allowing seasonal shifts between the dry summer landscape and the dense winter and spring growth to become part of the home's spatial experience. The compact layout emphasizes uninterrupted visual connections between the interior and the natural setting.

Material selection focuses on reducing the building's visual impact by blending the structure into its surroundings through finishes that echo the site's colors and textures. The design preserves the prominence of the ancient trees while using the architecture to highlight their scale and changing character throughout the year. Rather than separating indoor and outdoor spaces, the residence treats the surrounding landscape as a central architectural element, with each opening presenting a distinct perspective across the protected grove.

Image Credit: Mauricio Duarte Arratia, hypebeast