Small House

SMALL HOUSE - LA VEGA DE PUPUYA - LIBERTADOR BERNARDO O'HIGGINS REGION - CHILE

Casa Chica is located in La Vega de Pupuya, Navidad, a village of farmers, fishermen, and seaweed gatherers on the coast, 180 kilometers southwest of Santiago. This mostly rural area has experienced a booming real estate growth due to its potential for water sports.

The commission was for a refuge as austere as possible, with an open floor plan consisting of a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and a loft in the gabled roof to accommodate occasional visitors, just enough to settle into the place.

The terrain was the main driving force in how to approach the project. On one side, we had an impressive ocean view, and on the other, a pine forest nestled in a context of ravines where this house is immersed. In response to this, we decided to place the house in the lowest part of the land, well sheltered from any external information, which is also reflected in the transparency and opacity of its facades. This secluded situation affected our operation in two ways. On the one hand, we had to work with limited technology and local labor lacking specialization. On the other hand, we had to intervene in an idyllic landscape whose impeccable perfection would eventually be disrupted.

Casa Chica aims to be nothing more than a refuge similar to that of a local resident present in the area for years. It is very austere, with a strong shed-like identity, composed of a single nave and a gabled roof. However, it is inhabited by a different character who possesses the urban curiosity of contemplating the landscape. Therefore, one side of the house had to completely open up to the sea, unlike the vernacular typology where openings are more discreet.

Regarding the materials, the house is structured with traditional wooden carpentry. Its interior and exterior cladding are made of wood, and the roof is covered with pre-painted corrugated zinc.