celva arquitectura's concrete silvestre shelter resembles a mineral set in chilean rainforest

Silvestre Shelter sits embedded in the Valdivian rainforest

Set deep within the temperate rainforest of southern Chile, Silvestre Shelter by Celva Arquitectura emerged from a clear commission: to build a refuge that could not only withstand the harsh environmental conditions but also feel innately rooted in its place. More than just a structure, the residential project seeks presence, a way of inhabiting that speaks to permanence, density, and belonging. The design follows a stereotomic logic. Instead of erecting walls, a dense volume is sculpted, as if carved from stone over time. Mass is not a burden but the core of its architecture. The interior space is hollowed out from a solid form, revealing beveled edges and sharp cuts that feel extracted rather than assembled.

all images courtesy of Celva Arquitectura

Celva Arquitectura’s design adopts mineral morphology

For the construction process, the design team at Celva Arquitectura honors this mineral logic. The primary material is reinforced concrete, poured on-site using pine formwork, which gives the surface a textured, almost stone-like quality that harmonizes with the surrounding forest. On the exterior, traditional Chilean wooden shingles are added, chosen for their strength and capacity to endure and continue the dialogue with nature. Each opening is designed not merely to bring in light, but to shape shadow, frame views, and filter time. This is not an architecture of transparency, but of depth. Silvestre Shelter does not adapt, it does not shift, it remains. It is a stance against the ephemeral, a commitment to architecture as permanence, political, aesthetic, and existential.

the house is hollowed out from a solid form, revealing beveled edges and sharp cuts

Chilean wooden shingles on the exterior connect the shelter with its surroundings, adding a warm, natural texture

the concrete cabin in Silvestre Shelter contrasts with the natural landscape

the living area and ‘cat-sized staircase’ optimize space, creating a functional common area

the fireplace and tall windows connect the interior to the landscape, providing warmth and natural light

the main bedroom faces the landscape through a large window, shaping an intimate resting space

the bedroom with bunk beds maximizes vertical space, offering functionality and comfort

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level 1 plan

level 2 plan

partitioned axonometric

project info:

name: Silvestre Shelter

architect: Celva Arquitectura | @celva.arquitectura
lead designer: Camilo Silva Badilla
location: Valdivian rainforest, Chile, South America