Interview about Among Quillayes Mountain Bathroom, winner of the A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award 2025
Set within a privileged natural environment, this architectural project redefines the relationship between construction and landscape with a focus on sustainability. Designed around a majestic Quillayes forest, the project minimizes environmental impact, integrating seamlessly with its surroundings. It uses locally sourced, low impact materials like wood, natural stone, and reclaimed railway sleepers, creating a rustic yet refined aesthetic in harmony with nature. The design emphasizes energy efficiency, reducing the overall carbon footprint and promoting long term ecological balance.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe relationship with the quillayes and myrtle forest was the conceptual core of the project. From the beginning, I understood that the bathroom had to integrate into the environment without disturbing it, like a pause in the journey of the landscape. Preserving a myrtle tree in the center of the plot was not a restriction, but rather an opportunity to redefine the logic of the design. Each decision was made based on that founding gesture: instead of modifying the topography, I proposed staggered platforms that followed the natural slope. Materials such as local stone, wood and recycled sleepers were chosen for their durability and their ability to blend chromatically with the environment. The result is a space that does not seek to impose itself, but rather to partially disappear among the vegetation, inviting an experience of contemplation. It is an architecture that dialogues with nature instead of dominating it, which in itself represents a challenge to the traditional conventions of built design.
The choice of recycled railway sleepers arises from the intention to give the project a resilient and coherent materiality with the environment. This material, loaded with history and previous use, provides a visual texture and a character that dialogues with the landscape without artifice. Beyond its rustic aesthetics and great durability, its reuse represents a conscious gesture towards sustainability, avoiding the use of new wood and reducing the environmental footprint. Their presence in the project reinforces the low-impact narrative: building not from excess, but from intelligent reuse and respect for existing resources. Furthermore, the aged dark color of the sleepers allows them to visually integrate into the terrain, as if they had always been there. With this, a silent connection is established between past, present and landscape, in line with the spirit of the project.
Implementing a terraced platform following the natural topography involved several technical challenges. Firstly, it was necessary to carry out a survey of the land to define levels without resorting to invasive cuts or filling. Each terrace had to resolve both the structural settlement and the fluid circulation, without compromising the existing vegetation or altering natural runoff. Specific and light foundations were chosen, avoiding continuous slabs, which made it possible to reduce contact with the ground and facilitate the aeration of the ground, leaving the building detached from the ground. The slope of the site also involved resolving the accessibility and stability of the construction elements, especially in an environment where rain and erosion are relevant factors. This strategy not only respected the landscape, but strengthened the idea that architecture can adapt to the terrain rather than transform it, maintaining its structural integrity with minimal impact.
Among Quillayes' energy efficiency is not based solely on sustainable materials, but on a comprehensive passive strategy. The design takes advantage of solar orientation to maximize the entry of natural light during the day, reducing the need for artificial lighting. The use of materials with good thermal inertia, such as stone and wood, contributes to stabilizing the interior temperature, absorbing daytime heat and releasing it at night. In addition, the inclined and ventilated roof allows accumulated hot air to be evacuated, improving habitability in variable climates. These resources work together to reduce energy consumption, minimize the carbon footprint and offer a comfortable experience that is deeply connected to the natural conditions of the environment.
Although the myrtle tree is not exactly near the bathroom, the preservation of the myrtle tree was a foundational decision that defined the character of the overall project, including the bathroom. To protect it, a respectful perimeter was established from the first stages of design, avoiding any excavation or foundation close to its root system. The structure moved laterally and was divided into platforms that flow around the tree, generating a central void that frames it without touching it. These adaptations not only protected the tree, but turned it into the symbolic and spatial axis of the project, reaffirming the idea that architecture can and should be built around the living, not above it.
The balance between rusticity and refinement in Among Quillayes was achieved through a careful selection of materials and construction details that responded to the environment without falling into the merely traditional or pretentious. Natural stone and recycled sleepers provide the texture and rustic warmth of the mountain landscape, while simple, clean lines and precise joints introduce an air of contemporary sophistication. The carpentry and surface treatment of the wood emphasize that duality: its organic essence was respected, but with finishes that ensure durability and comfort. Thus, the project invites an authentic experience, where the architecture feels genuine and at the same time carefully crafted, respecting the unique character of the place and offering a serene and welcoming atmosphere.
Maximizing functionality in just 7 m2 involved meticulous planning, where every centimeter is important without sacrificing the feeling of openness. The design takes advantage of the elongated shape and dimensions to organize the spaces in a linear manner, facilitating natural flow and unobstructed circulation. Strategic openings provide light and views to the environment, expanding spatial perception and connecting interior and exterior. The materials and textures continue the dialogue with the landscape, avoiding visual breaks that could saturate the space.
Site investigation was essential to understand the topographic complexity, biodiversity and climatic conditions of the area. Through visits, analysis of the terrain and data collection, we detected the presence of different trees under legal protection regime, which became the central axis of the project. We also identified wind and sunlight patterns that guided the orientation and natural ventilation of the bathroom. The study of locally available materials allowed us to select stone, wood and recycled sleepers that ensured durability and low environmental impact. This knowledge guided a design that responds sensitively to the place, minimizing interventions and maximizing integration with the ecosystem.
Although it is a small and private project, demonstrating that it is possible to design functional and beautiful spaces that deeply respect their natural environment is a good achievement. I believe this project promotes a vision where the integration of local materials, such as natural stone and recycled wood, not only meets aesthetic criteria, but also reduces the environmental footprint and promotes the circular economy. Furthermore, the conscious preservation of the landscape, such as the protection of myrtle, shows that architecture should not impose itself on the environment, but rather dialogue with it.
Receiving this recognition has reaffirmed my conviction that sustainable architecture is not just an option, but an inevitable responsibility, especially in complex terrain such as mountains. This recognition motivates me to continue exploring solutions that respect the natural environment and respond to technical challenges with creativity and sensitivity. The Among Quillayes project taught me that innovation can arise from simplicity, from understanding the site and using local materials with low impact. The award strengthens my commitment to designing spaces that harmonize with nature, minimize the environmental footprint and offer comfort, even in the most demanding conditions.
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