photographer cristóbal palma has shared his documentation of a remote hotel on the chilean island of chiloé. designed by mobil arquitectos, ‘tierra chiloé’ combines the region’s vernacular traditions with contemporary design tools and modern building technology. evoking the materiality and culture of the island, the building has been designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, resting lightly on the undulating terrain.

mobil arquitectos tierra chiloé
image © cristóbal palma (also main image)

 

 

tierra chiloé’s location, elevated on a hilltop, affords sweeping views across the sea and towards the andes mountains. mobil arquitectos conceived the hotel as a ‘bridge’ that connects guests to their surroundings without altering the topography of the landscape. many of the hotel’s common areas, including an outdoor pool, are situated beneath the structure with guest rooms contained within the building on the second floor.

mobil arquitectos tierra chiloé
image © cristóbal palma

 

 

‘the logic of design builds sheltered interiors in a context very exposed to extreme climate conditions, which are projected towards the exterior enjoying the views of the landscape,’ explain the architects. ‘the design of the hotel is the result of this dialog between protecting and taking advantage of the unique characteristics of the site, which together build the memory and experience of visiting chiloé.’

mobil arquitectos tierra chiloé
image © cristóbal palma

 

 

santiago-based photographer cristóbal palma has recently shared with designboom a number of projects that he has documented in south america. these include a renovated and expanded ranch in patagonia that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and a concrete residence on the chilean coast overlooking the pacific ocean. see our dedicated tag page to the photographer here.

mobil arquitectos tierra chiloé
image © cristóbal palma

mobil arquitectos sites tierra chiloé hotel to maximize views across a chilean island
image © cristóbal palma

mobil arquitectos sites tierra chiloé hotel to maximize views across a chilean island
image © cristóbal palma

mobil arquitectos sites tierra chiloé hotel to maximize views across a chilean island
image © cristóbal palma

 

 

project info:

 

name: tierra chiloé
location: chiloé, chile
design: mobil arquitectos
function: hotel
completion: 2018 (second phase)
photography: cristóbal palma