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Architects
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Location
Melipeuco, Temuco, Temuco, IX Región, Chile -
Architect in Charge
José Luis Ibáñez Gomien -
Constructor
Cristóbal Cortés
Text description provided by the architects. The project goal was to embody the spirit of the Araucania hamlets. These structures, which have different sizes and materials, are arranged around a meeting area. The meeting area is a flat esplanade, also surrounded by farm machinery, like tractors, trucks, construction materials, animals, etc.
The housing project is for the fishery workers, and the covered deck (120 feet by 15 feet) provides order in the building layout and the only circulation between buildings. To give emphasis to its own ground, the terrace was raised 4 feet from the ground and covered to protect it from rain and snow and also to provide shade during the summer.
Around the terrace are the different buildings arranged in an irregular geometry: the dining room, bath and dressing rooms, the office, and the house. Each building is separated about 6 feet from the terrace at different angles. This provides natural light to the facades while allowing for the possibility to build new structures that are consistent with the overall project idea.
Interior rooms are spacious and full of natural light and ventilation. Their square plan is very flexible in order to adapt to the changing demands of the fishery. This allowed for standardized structural materials (beams, plywood, roofing, etc) and also allowed for the construction to be done by local carpenters, who are accustomed to regular geometries.
Each building has two horizontal rows of windows: The row above 12 feet provides natural and regulated light to each area of building. The lower horizontal row of windows provides views and ventilation. The level of the terrace roof varies within the two rows of windows.
In order to optimize sustainability, the Project utilized waste from the prior construction of the fishery quarters (plywood for molds, sheet metal roofing, anchors, etc). The lumber for the exterior finish came from a local sawmill. Floor, walls, and roof are well insulated. The roof is also a vegetated surface which provides habitat and helps absorb storm water. Joints are sealed with foam and the size of the windows was determined to maximize thermal insulation. Insulated concrete slabs also provide thermal mass.
