An extraordinary house, it was built on a rather ordinary suburban plot on the outskirts of the Chilean capital Santiago.

Irarrazaval describes his style as ‘light’, citing the work of mid-20th century architects such as Schindler and Neutra. He compares the Californian climate – where Eames, Neutra and Schindler worked – to that of Chile and also sees parallels in their techniques and materials, favouring steel and concrete.

He explains: ‘I recognise the way they work with timber and steel, their lightness in the use of materials, combining elements and integrating the interior and exterior.’
The architect included a sliding wall of glass down one side of the house that can be fully opened to allow the family to take advantage of the Chilean climate and breathtaking vistas. Santiago is situated in a natural bowl, surrounded by mountains, towards which the city is expanding.

Irarrazaval’s plans for the plot were designed to take advantage of these impressive views. Raising the house by a half-storey, he was able to create added height while also separating the level of the house from the street, which can be noisy.
He recalls: ‘The first thing we did was to build a wall, which closes off the noise, creating a boundary and an interior independent from its surroundings. From the interior perpective the wall effectively obscures any neighbouring houses, providing uninterrupted views of the skyline, especially from the roof terrace.

July/August 2010 Issue

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