On the Punta Ballena peninsula in Uruguay, iHouse estudio has completed Casa Luna: a small-scale, prefabricated retreat. The black wood cabin was conceived as an “extension” of Casa Flor—an existing cabin by the architects that occupies the adjacent site. The intention of the architect was to create a pavilion that could provide necessary space for a growing family without the challenges of building a conventional home or extending the existing structure’s footprint. The result is a compact and fluid cabin designed with efficient use of space and materials in mind, which opens to—and respects—the surrounding landscape.
Offsite construction limits material waste
Measuring 40 square meters, the cabin was constructed in a factory, allowing for precise material use that reduced waste. Because the cabin was moved to the location by truck and installed using a crane, its disturbance to the site and its neighbours—both human and animal—was minimal. The cabin required no major excavation or groundwork: placed on stilts, this “light touch” approach reduces its lasting environmental footprint.
Compact floor plan opens to nature
The rectangular volume is divided into three zones. Behind an opaque wall at the far end of the cabin are storage areas and the bathroom; at the center, the living-lounge-kitchen; and at the far end, a bedroom which faces a large fixed glass pane that gives the sensation of seeping among the trees. Like Casa Flor, the design of Casa Luna maintains a strong connection to its surroundings.
The cabin features extensive glazing on both sides of the social heart. Full height windows open onto decking that connect the indoors with the forest outside, a permeability that amplifies the experience of living in the landscape.
