AKA Patagonia

August 14, 2020

Pablo Larroulet, the founder of LARROU ARQ, projected AKA Patagonia - a
cabins & lodge hotel in Puerto Natales, in southern Chile.



The Place: Encounter and contrast
Patagonia is one of the most important tourist destinations in Chile and the world, a geography that strikes you with its scale, untamed wilderness and the bond that’s generated between the visitor and the landscape.

The meeting of the elements hits you at first sight, the connection between water and glacier, rock and mountain, tree and earth; a contrast of materials, forms and colors, between the solid and the liquid, between the mountain gorge and the valley plain.
 The roots of this project lie in this concept: encounter and contrast, an architecture that emerges from the earth and becomes part of nature, rupturing forms that rise up like mountains, volcanoes and glaciers on the horizon of Puerto Natales.
Aka Patagonia is a tribute to the landscape.




Design

The project consists of six modules (private double rooms with a bathroom) and one communal module for relaxing, meeting and cooking.




The 6 prefabricated wooden modules were built in a shipyard and then assembled on site, strategically positioned to frame the views of the various natural attractions and to obtain the maximum level of natural light during the day. The entire construction was built on piles to have the lowest impact on the site. 
The space was designed so that guests can experience the continuous flow of nature, both inside and out.



Sensations and Materials
The lenga tree is a species native to the region. It envelops the project, even the roof, protecting the structure from extreme weather conditions. The lenga has evolved to grow in places with poor soil, cold climates and strong winds, where no other species can usually adapt.




The aging of the material is a key aspect of the project: achieving a fusion between the built environment and the landscape. Over time, architecture seeks to adapt to its environment, without competition or pretension, by becoming a part of it.



Photography by Fernanda Del Villar

Address: Puerto Natales, Magallanes, Cile Puerto Natales, Chile
www.akapatagonia.com
www.larrou.com

SHARE THIS

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

 Home Projects

By G&G _ Magazine January 12, 2026
DA bureau designed a 150 m² apartment in St. Petersburg, conceived to offer comfortable, functional living for a couple with three children.
By G&G _ Magazine January 9, 2026
OF. Studio, an internationally award-winning architecture practice based in London, designed a 571 m² single-family residence in Mendoza, Argentina, conceived as a bold architectural response to its landscape, where form, materiality, and human inhabitation are expressed with radical honesty.
By G&G _ Magazine January 7, 2026
SAOTA introduced Lagoon Villa, an extraordinary architectural residence that seamlessly blends the vibrancy of Abidjan’s cityscape with the serene beauty of the Ébrié Lagoon. With interior design by Claude Missir, the villa epitomises modernist architecture while embracing the natural environment.
By G&G _ Magazine November 11, 2025
LEI Interior Design has been recognized with the Best Luxury Apartment Interior Design award for Mina Azizi , Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE. This impressive honor from Luxury Lifestyle Awards reflects a thoughtful and design-led renovation that redefines what modern beachfront living can look and feel like.
By G&G _ Magazine September 1, 2025
In collaboration with ATA Architecture, Vives St-Laurent designed a residence nestled at the foot of Mount Saint-Bruno, on Montreal’s South Shore.
MORE

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine November 25, 2025
With an enviable location for those wishing to explore the city's art and culture, the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel is an ode to balanced and functional design, with its aesthetic curated by Spanish interior design studio El Equipo Creativo .
By G&G _ Magazine November 6, 2025
interihotel once again amazed the city of Barcelona from October 21st to 23rd, bringing more than 11,600 industry professionals from around the world, reaffirming its position as Europe's leading event for hospitality design.
By G&G _ Magazine September 11, 2025
At M&O September 2025 edition, countless brands and design talents unveiled extraordinary innovations. Yet, among the many remarkable presences, some stood out in a truly distinctive way. G&G _ Magazine is proud to present a curated selection of 21 Outstanding Professionals who are redefining the meaning of Craftsmanship in their own unique manner, blending tradition with contemporary visions and eco-conscious approaches.