Conguillío National Park is one of Chile’s most emblematic protected areas, known for its extraordinary biodiversity, ancient Araucaria forests, and its role as a carbon sink in mitigating climate change. Recognized as a UNESCO BiosphereReserve since 1983 and part of Chile’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, the parkintegrates conservation, scientific research, and ecotourism.

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The project, developed under the “Tourism Enhancement Design for Conguillío National Park” tender (2021-2022), aims to replace outdated, fragmentedinfrastructure with a cohesive system of sustainable facilities. It includes 43 new buildings across 8 park sectors, spanning three municipalities. These structureswill house administrative offices for CONAF, environmental education centers, visitor control points, commercial services, camping facilities, and accommodations for park rangers.

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Given the park’s sensitive ecosystem and complex geography, the design followsstrict standardization and prefabrication principles to minimize environmentalimpact and ensure adaptability over time. The project employs off-grid energysolutions and sustainable materials, including screw foundations for minimal soildisruption, prefabricated steel structures with bolted connections, mixed steel and treated wood enclosures, organic insulation systems, and recycled materials forcirculation pathways.

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This approach balances ecological conservation with human engagement, demonstrating how architecture can be a catalyst for responsible tourism and a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and nature.