Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL

Elemental's design for Casa OchoQuebradas draws on the rugged landscape of its site, a cliff on the coast of Chile, to create a rugged, even primitive weekend house design of concrete volumes. Inspired by their idea that "a weekend house is ultimately a kind of retreat where people allowed themselves to suspend the conventions of life and go back to a more essential living," the house is a simple composition which incorporates such features as a main room which can be opened up to the outdoors and a central open fire.

More on Casa OchoQuebradas after the break

Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - FacadeCasa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - WindowsCasa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Image 4 of 43Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Image 5 of 43Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - More Images+ 38

Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Image 6 of 43
© Elemental

"To tell the truth, we have been trying lately to be as primitive as possible; in an era where the hunger for novelty is threatening architecture to become immediately obsolete, we are looking for timelessness." explains Elemental. "In this case, the site and the program allowed for a natural move towards the archaic."

Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Coast
© Elemental
Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Windows, Coast
© Elemental

The building consists of three volumes: one upright, which hosts the bedrooms and bathrooms; underneath a low, horizontal volume which includes the main living space, with an open fire; connecting the two is a skewed volume that acts as the chimney for the fire.

Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Image 4 of 43
© Elemental

The architects saw this fire as the centerpiece of their design, embodying their desired spirit of primitiveness. They were intent on "not a chimney (which is already something civilized), but a fire (which is one of the most revolutionary yet old achievements of man)."

Section
Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Facade
© Elemental

The house is mostly poured concrete, with the surface of the roof terrace finished in the same wood used for shuttering. "We expect these pieces to age as a stone, acquiring some of the brutality of the place but still being gentle for people to enjoy nature and life in general," say the architects.

Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL - Windows
© Elemental
Sketches
  • Architects

  • Location

    Los Vilos, Coquimbo Region, Chile
  • Principles in Charge

    Alejandro Aravena, Victor Oddó, Gonzalo Aretaga, Diego Torres, Juan Cerda
  • Design Team

    Alexander Frehse, José Esparza, Carlos Portillo, Isaías Moreno, Clémence Pybaro, Suyin Chia
  • Structural Engineer

    Luis Soler P. y Asociados
  • Mechanical Engineer

    Geocav Ltda.
  • Interior Design

    Elemental / Interdesign
  • Client

    Ocho al Cubo Project
  • Area

    289.0 m2
  • Project Year

    2014
  • Photographs

    Courtesy of Elemental
  • Architects

Project gallery

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About this office
Cite: Rory Stott. "Casa OchoQuebradas / ELEMENTAL" 07 Jul 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/524606/elemental-s-ochoquebradas-the-spirit-of-the-primitive> ISSN 0719-8884

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