Perched on a cliff between the Peruvian desert and the Pacific Ocean, the C3 House is the work of architects Sandra Barclay and Jean Pierre Crousse. Their Lima–based studio, Barclay & Crousse, tapped into local craftsmanship and materials to create a sculptural home that takes full advantage of dramatic ocean views without detracting from the landscape.

“Avoiding an objectual relationship with context, the house is conceived as a soil extrusion rather than an object in landscape,” note the architects.

Commissioned by a couple with grown children, the C3 House serves as a holiday retreat with four bedrooms and plenty of space for entertaining. The 5,887-square-foot dwelling is split into four staggered volumes, each separated by function.

On the ground floor are the garage and entrance that lead up to the primary entertaining spaces, which frames views of the Pacific Ocean through floor-to-ceiling windows.

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The two other volumes house the bedrooms and are topped with accessible landscaped terraces.

Blending the home into the landscape was one of the biggest challenges, along with staying within the $400,000 budget. To minimize costs, Barclay & Crousse turned to basic construction methods so that local, non-specialized labor could be used.

“A few masons were able to carve local stone and pour concrete in recycled wooden formwork, which reduced tremendously the cost for such a building," the firm adds. "A special effort was made for the concrete vaults, and the masons were extremely proud to accomplish that endeavor.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Barclay & Crousse

Builder/ General Contractor: Ruben Cavallini (mason)

Structural Engineer: Jorge Indacochea

Photography: Cristóbal Palma (@estudiopalma)

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A Sculptural Holiday Home is Shaped by the Peruvian Desert