Hito Entrelazos Watchtower | Javiera Muñoz Olave

Located at the edge of Parque Pumaitén in Romeral, Chile, Hito Entrelazos presents itself as a small-scale architectural piece, deeply connected to the cultural and material context of the place. Designed as a point of contemplation and introspection, this landmark invites visitors to pause and observe, to immerse themselves in the landscape and engage their senses.

The site functions as a visual extension of the area. Like a frame that encapsulates the landscape and projects it, allowing the view to extend beyond. In an environment where the scent of vegetation, the texture of the earth, and the diversity of the landscape are already very present, the structure intensifies that connection to the sensory and the emotional.

Inspired by traditional agricultural watchtowers that are common in Romeral, the project rises 4.3 meters above the ground and is clad with eucalyptus poles, a simple yet highly symbolic material that is part of the local construction identity, used in facades, roofs, and enclosures in Romeral.

Its shape is deliberately narrow, designed for only one person to inhabit it at a time, enhancing introspection and contemplation, allowing for an intimate and personal experience. It is not just a viewpoint; it is a space to feel, to pause, and to observe from another place.

This new inhabited space does not adhere to the logic of traditional permanence, but rather to a sensory and temporal experience. The skin of the landmark, pertinent to the site, filters light, casts changing shadows, and releases the aroma of eucalyptus with the rain. Thus, architecture is not only seen, smelled, and heard, but also felt and inhabited through the senses.

The project intertwines local culture, the landscape, and the experience of the visitor in a simple yet powerful structure. It invites greater attention to the senses and encourages a deeper connection with the landscape.

Project Info

Architects:Javiera Muñoz Olave
Area: 10 m²
Country: Romeral, Chile
Photographs:Pablo Pacheco Valdés
Equipo Líder: Javiera Muñoz Olave