Tucked into the rolling green hills of Nocaima, Colombia, this small house begins with a familiar idea and slowly turns it into something quietly unexpected. Designed by Obreval, the project looks to rural building traditions not as fixed references, but as living elements that can be questioned, refined, and reshaped for the present.
Bamboo, pitched roofs, and open corridors are all part of the architectural memory of the region. Here, they are carefully revisited and turned into precise design moves. Each element is treated with intention, allowing the house to stay connected to its cultural roots while forming a new relationship with the landscape and climate around it.
The roof becomes the clearest expression of this shift. Instead of repeating a conventional rural form, the design introduces a butterfly roof that actively gathers and channels rainwater. Sustainability is not hidden or added on. It becomes part of the building’s visual language and spatial character, creating a direct conversation between structure, environment, and daily life.
This dialogue continues in the structural system. The columns are formed from four intersecting bamboo culms, a subtle nod to modern architectural thinking, and are grounded with black steel bases. The contrast between natural material and refined detailing creates a balance of craft and precision, where tradition feels light, deliberate, and forward looking rather than nostalgic.
Inside, the house embraces simplicity and openness. The bedroom flows seamlessly into a compact kitchenette, creating a sense of continuity and lightness. Privacy is gently maintained through a cleverly concealed bathroom tucked behind a curved wall, adding an unexpected softness to the interior geometry. Natural materials and minimal detailing carry the warmth of the surrounding landscape indoors, making every corner feel intentional yet relaxed.
Together, these choices shape a house that feels both grounded and quietly radical. It stands as a human-made construct that does not compete with its surroundings, but elevates them.
By embracing material honesty and cultural memory, the project proposes a contemporary vision for rural living in Colombia that is thoughtful, sustainable, and architecturally confident.
Photography by Ivan Ortiz Ponce – Par Fotógrafos
Source: Contemporist
