Los Mañíos Housing

Abstract

Nestled in the forests of Chile’s 10th Region, in the Chamiza area of the Puerto Montt municipality. The building’s construction system utilizes wheat straw bales combined with a supporting wooden framework. The passive design of this home incorporates an efficient thermal envelope by using wheat straw bales in its exterior walls and orienting the majority of the windows toward the north to maximize solar gains and natural lighting. Additionally, this project incorporates spaces typical of southern Chilean living, such as the chiflonera and the flojero—a seating area around the wood-burning stove. The house highlights the wood-based materials and construction techniques characteristic of southern Chile.