vaulted glazed shelter by tololo ugarte brings verdant chilean nature indoors

Catalejo house (spyglass) floats above ground

Catalejo (Spyglass) by Tololo Ugarte is a vaulted shelter designed to echo and extend its natural setting into its interior spaces. Situated in Limache, Chile, the project arose from the site itself—a landscape marked by four ancient trees over 300 years old, contrasting with a fertile pastureland that shifts character across seasons. The summer unveils a semi-arid landscape, while the rains of winter and spring bring a lush growth of wild grasses, transforming the ground into a verdant, undulating blanket that flanks the house.

The house is designed to hover just above the ground, allowing the grass to grow beneath it, creating the impression of floating within a ‘green lagoon.’ This approach integrates the natural, seasonal evolution of the terrain as an active part of the architectural experience. The ancient quillay and molle trees, which stand apart as monumental, enduring figures in the landscape, became key points of orientation for the structure. The residence aligns with these trees, maintaining a respectful distance while its vaulted, double-height ceiling amplifies the view, bringing the forest within.

all images by Mauricio Duarte Arratia

circular open form draws the landscape within

The house’s circular form enhances this connection, drawing the surrounding landscape into each room and creating a fluid transition between indoors and outdoors. Here, the natural environment is not simply a backdrop—it becomes a dynamic, integral element that reshapes the perception of interior space. The design team at Tololo Ugarte selected the materials for the home with visual harmony in mind, aiming to blend the architecture into its context and reduce its visual footprint. Catalejo acts as an exploration of living spaces that invite an ongoing dialogue with nature. By framing views and allowing light to filter in, the design encourages an awareness of place, turning each window into a focused lens on the shifting landscape. This creates an experience where built structure becomes a form of interaction, fostering a heightened appreciation of the land.

Catalejo (Spyglass) by Tololo Ugarte is a vaulted structure that connects with its surrounding landscape

elevated just above ground level, Catalejo appears to float over the wild grasses

a vaulted, double-height ceiling amplifies the forest view, seamlessly bringing nature into the house’s interior

Catalejo’s circular form fosters a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor spaces

Tololo Ugarte chose materials that allow for visual harmony and minimal environmental impact

each window in Catalejo frames a unique view of the surrounding landscape, acting as a lens on nature

natural light filters through the home, enhancing the connection to the outdoors

architecture and nature work together, creating a living experience centered on place and perspective

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project info:

name: Catalejo (spyglass)
architect: Tololo Ugarte | @tololo_

location: Limache, Chile

photography: Mauricio Duarte Arratia | @mauricioduartearratia

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom