Finger Joint House / LAND Arquitectos

Architects: LAND Arquitectos
Location: Nogales, Valparaíso, Chile
Structure: Manuel Ruiz
Construction: Juan Vicencio
Project area: 277 sqm
Project year: 2008 – 2009
Photographs: Cristóbal Palma

We encountered a degraded agricultural site, which takes its value primarily by the distant view to the mountains and vineyards. So we wanted to create a new landscape concept and give new values to the immediate areas within the site, through the architecture and its interaction with the site.

For achieving this we apply a simple strategy that we called “finger Joint” . JOINT: The point at which two parts join into an artificial structure. Architecture (artificial) + Field (artificial site, degraded agricultural land). This results in the arrangement of interlocking volumes (finger joint) with the terrain, shaping a new landscape. The “Landscaping” becomes active or functional, as these green voids in between the volumes provide ventilation and cools down the indoor temperature.

Also, these voids are covered with vegetation that protects the wood from the strongest sun exposure from the north avoiding premature aging. The voids as yards have a functional role for the house too. The major views from the inside were direct o to the surrounding hills and vineyards.

Passive sustainable strategies:

Green patios, cross-ventilation and opening to the prevailing winds to cool down the house White ventilated wooden covering on the outside walls.

For the complete photoset you can visit Cristobal Palma’s website.