A compact prefab “Refugio” from Chile

Refugio (“Refuge”) is a tiny prefab dwelling produced by FabriHome in Chile. It is typically used as a vacation cabin but it could be a permanent residence for a single person or a couple. It would also be great for temporary housing following a disaster as Chile is susceptible to earthquakes and associated tsunamis.

Angled ends and siding give Refugio a distinctive appearance. It is built as a steel-framed module covered by wood finishes inside and out. The 21 m² (226 ft²) studio floor plan has a three-piece bathroom at one end and the sleeping area at the other next to a large window that fills the entire end wall. In the middle is a kitchenette (not yet installed in the home shown in these photos) and sitting area. Double doors centered on the long side open to a deck almost as big as the house itself.

FabriHome designed Refugio for easy expansion. A second module can be added in parallel and access provided through a hidden door frame already built into the wall between the kitchenette and the bed. By doing so, you could get a nice little two-bedroom house in only 42 m² (452 ft²).

As of this writing, the base price for Refugio is $12,257,000 in Chilean pesos or $20,600 in US dollars. See the FabriHome website for more information.

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Photographs courtesy of FabriHome.

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