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Architects: Alberto Browne + Hernán Fontaine
- Area: 360 m² Area: 360 m²
- Year: 2012 Year: 2012
- Photographs: Alberto Browne
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Structural Engineering: Ingevsa, José Manuel Morales
Text description provided by the architects. The brief was to build a residential house for a family and guests in the area of Catapilco, the 5th Region in Chile.
The Principal idea was to build the house with wood. The main strategy was to focus on the wooden section of the house and secondly on its surroundings.
It was built with wooden pillars all along the house which are separated at 120 cm intervals. This creates a longitudinal house and highlights the methodology of the construction. This repetition forms a sense of infinity.
The predominant material is wood, for the structure, the floor, the ceiling and the walls. This material was chosen because it is a natural element. Added to which, it was more economical and on site there was little water and electricity.
The second feature was the location. Catapilco is situated between the coast and the Andes. The site is close to a eucalyptus forest. The North side faces the coast and the South side faces the mountain. It is a place where nature is a key element. Therefore, the strategy was to use nature’s potential. All the bedrooms face the North side for the view.
The long corridor is situated on the South side. It crosses through the whole house giving a sensation of space and of merging with the hills.
There are many points of entry to the house so that the people can feel free while walking through it and also can feel a connection with the surroundings.
