A Mountain Getaway in Chile With Over 700 Avocado Trees Asks $1.1M

Casa El Maqui is a sustainable home with spectacular views of its verdant surroundings.

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Designed by GITC Arquitectura in 2014, Casa El Maqui rests on the eastern hillside of El Maqui Brook, a rural corner of the Chilean Coastal Range. The 3,013-square-foot residence consists two glass-encased bases bridged by a rectangular timber-clad unit.

Featuring over 3,000 square feet of living space, Casa El Maqui is comprised of two box-like bases topped with an overhanging timber-clad structure.

To avoid destroying the pristine landscape, the current owners sought a site that was ravaged by erosion and didn’t contain any vegetation. The land was then replanted with local flora and fauna to help regenerate the ecosystem.

The home is clad in timber and built with reinforced concrete and steel. On the ground level, the main living areas are enclosed by sliding glass walls, which open the space up while inviting cool breezes inside. Wooden platforms stretch across the surrounding gardens, which incorporate a sunken biofilter pond, a pool, a sauna, and a hot tub.

A long, slender skylight illuminates the top-floor lounge area. "The home’s location on the eastern slope of the creek ensures prolonged sunlight throughout the year, while also being optimally exposed to the prevailing rising air currents in the valley," states the firm.

"These water features and their specific aquatic plants made possible a flooded garden, excavated on the hillside, directly in contact with the common areas," explains the firm. "The flooded garden also provides an important cooling effect that helps control and manage the summer’s high temperatures."

Sliding glass doors open the lower-level living room to the outdoors. Stone steps bridge the sunken biofilter pond surrounding the home.

Branching out from the double-height living area, the upper level contains three spacious bedrooms, along with a master suite. Designed in a linear fashion, each room frames picturesque views of the encompassing landscape. A long, spacious terrace provides access to the outdoors.

Another view of the living room, which seamlessly flows to the dining area and kitchen.

The contemporary residence features four bedrooms, all of which offer access to the outdoors via large, sliding glass doors that lead to a wooden terrace.

To avoid damaging the area’s rich ecosystem, the home was built on a damaged hillside without vegetation. "This new landscaping project should help recover the area," adds the firm. An orchard with over 700 Avocado trees has also been also planted on the property.