Rumi Ñahui
The Rumi Ñahui Cabin is conceived from a premise of submission to its setting: the imposing Andean landscape and its cold, windswept climate. To the east, the architecture blends into its surroundings through the use of faceted elements that evoke suspended rocks, softening the built volume while offering protection from the wind. In contrast, to the west, a continuous wall of reflective glass mirrors the landscape, dissolving the building’s boundaries, reducing its visual impact, and capturing the afternoon sun. The elevation of the volume above the ground, allowing the landscape to flow freely beneath, reinforces the idea that it is the place—and not the architectural object—that prevails.
From the interior, the landscape is framed through a large horizontal window facing east, while semi-reflective glazed panels extend the surroundings visually into the interior. Even the furniture reinforces this dialogue with the landscape: from the kitchen fittings with reflective finishes to the sculptural washbasin that evokes suspended carved rocks.
At the same time, the project responds efficiently to the climate. Its compact rectangular form, oriented with the long façades facing east and west to optimise solar gain, improves thermal performance through passive strategies such as the use of thermally massive materials, airtight windows, and controlled ventilation. These are complemented by active systems including photovoltaic panels and a biodigester for waste, consolidating a sustainable architecture that remains profoundly attuned to the landscape.
