Las Palmas de Leyda Spa / Cristobal Valenzuela

Architect: Cristobal Valenzuela Haeussler
Location: Fundo las Palmas, Leyda; V Region, Chile
Project Year: 2008
Collaborator: Angela Delorenzo Arancibia
Structural Engineer: Manuel José Ruiz
Contractor: Cristobal Valenzuela Haeussler
Budget: US $660 / sqm
Site Area: 2 ha
Constructed Area: 210 sqm
Photographs: Camilo Meluz

We asked ourselves, in which way could we design an interior space, that remains completely open to the exterior that surrounds it, visually. Opening some views that the main country house didn’t seized. Mainly that the project atmosphere, was to be inside and outside at the same time.

Based on these idea, we were interested in the way, that the “ramadas” (structure built for independence feasts), used eucalyptus branches, creating a skin, which constantly registers daylight, changing the perception from the interior space. Used in the project, this skin, at the same time filters daylight and gives some privacy to the project that is covered mostly by glass, as this wooden skin doesn’t let the interior to be seen from the out side, but permits full visibility from the inside to the exterior space. At the same time we took the circulation system concept from old Chilean country houses. An open corridor, that in this case connects the program in a perimetral way. Other materials, like steel for the structure, and reinforced concrete for the barbecue and fireplace, where used too.

The project is organized through the barbecue area, main space, where most of the activity takes place. Other areas like the pool, hot tub and fire place, are connected to the main space, allowing several different ambiences, all of them visually connected. All these areas wrapped as one big space, by the wooden skin, made up from 1×3 inches Ulmo wood planks, gives the interior-exterior feeling that we wanted to achieve. The gym, massage room, and steam bath, are connected with the rest of the program, but where conceived as much more private spaces.

The project is located in a high plane in the 2 ha garden, so it would overlook the valley, and the fruit trees plantation, adding this last area to the garden.

So we built a ventilate space, covered by a wooden skin, that during a very hot chilean summer, it’s a cool shaded place, and during cold winters, it’s a warm interior, completely connected with the garden and the Leyda valley views.