Luxurious Spanish Wooden Designed Home

Chiloé Island, called Isla de Chiloé in Spanish, also known as Greater Island of Chiloé or Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest island of the Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean. This island is located towards southern Chile in the Los Lagos Region and has now acquired fame for a unique house which is made entirely from wood. Called the Muelle house, this ultra contemporary house has been designed by Jonas Retamal and overlooks the Castro’s fjord. Since this region is infamous for its inclement and unstable weather, the Muelle house was specially designed to counter Mother Nature’s fury including fires and earthquakes. The wood for the Muelle house consists of peanut, ulmo and the tepa trees which were sourced from the forests nearby. The varieties in the textures and colors of the barks of the trees are reflected in the myriad colors in the house.

The house constitutes three volumes, which are essentially designed to cater to three functions which are the service areas, sleeping quarters and the lounging area which includes the kitchen, the living and the dining room that leads onto the deck. Muelle house is perhaps one of the last remaining houses made entirely of wood in Chile. The maintenance of wooden houses depends on the weather conditions of the area in question so rough weather conditions will mean an increased frequency of maintenance. In fact, a properly maintained wooden house can last can last over a 100 years after which it will require a complete restoration. Muelle house has been constructed on an 8 degree slope on stilts and has been designed to withstand the worst weather conditions. A home made from wood always evokes images of warmth and comfort and a log cabin is the archetypal wooden home that is redolent of these feelings. In fact, wood is an extremely versatile building material which has been put to diverse use in various countries and cultures.

The role of technology in Modernist wood architecture is significant as computer technology allows complex geometry modelling and advanced visualization techniques that facilitate the designing process. Not many would be aware that utilising timber as a building material provides infinite possibilities in design innovation and the Muelle house is testament to the versatility of timber. Modernist wood architecture such as Muelle house is an amalgam of traditional carpentry techniques, innovation in design and technology which is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on every visitor to this incredible home.

Entirely Wooden Design Home Exterior
house entirely made of wood 1