By: Nigel F. Maynard
Project: Casa Gallareta / Location: Patagonia, Argentina / Architects: OJA / Location: Patagonia / Photos: Juan Segundo Diaz Dopazo, Rocio Sossa / Abril Roffo and Nacho Ballester
Casa Gallareta is a series of luxury cabins in the forests of Patagonia. Designed by OJA, the project is special to one of the firm’s founders, Juan Segundo Diaz Dopazo: It’s owned by his parents.
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The project involved the creation of a boutique-scale tourist complex within a native forest of Coihues and Arrayanes, on steep terrain with stunning views and direct access to the shores of Lake Correntoso—an incredibly peaceful and natural setting. Their proposal consisted of modular “landscape cabins” for two to three guests, conceived as just another element of the forest. Each cabin blends into its surroundings with a sense of controlled randomness—sharing a common architectural language, yet featuring subtle variations that give each one a unique identity.
Dopazo and his partner María Ayelén Olivieri Martínez carefully placed the cabins in natural clearings where no trees needed to be cut down, staying true to their core objective: to create an architecture that coexists harmoniously with the forest. Despite their compact footprint, the cabins offer a captivating spatial experience—dissolving the boundaries between the interior and the surrounding forest.
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Each unit is designed as a single open space, split across half-levels and punctuated by large, strategically positioned windows. These openings extend the sense of space outward and allow the dense canopy to provide privacy and immersion in nature. This approach also fosters intimacy between each volume and the communal areas of the complex.
The bathrooms are spacious and comfortable, with the largest cabin featuring a freestanding tub with panoramic views that invite guests to enjoy a hot bath while watching the snowfall through the window.
The architects anticipated the project’s logistical challenges: a narrow, sloped site densely populated with trees. To address this, they opted for dry construction atop reinforced concrete foundations, requiring precise and efficient planning.
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For the exterior, the architects specified a rugged, rocky morphology clad in eucalyptus wood, treated with the ancient Japanese technique Shou Sugi Ban. This method—charring the wood’s surface—creates a unique texture and improves water resistance, fire retardancy, sustainability and durability. “The blackened wood serves as a backdrop that highlights the green of the trees and the white of the snow,” the architects’ project statement says. “Lapacho wood (a cinnamon-colored hardwood reminiscent of the Arrayanes), glass, black metalwork, and exposed concrete were used as complementary materials.”
Inside, a single material dominates: Guatambú wood. Light in color and knot-free, it strikes a counterpoint to the dark exterior and enhances the sense of spaciousness. Used in large panels, it provided both aesthetic value and construction efficiency. All interior furniture is crafted from the same wood, resulting in a clean, monolithic design that visually blends furniture and wall, reinforcing a minimalist and cohesive aesthetic.
