CASA LA CHUPALLA

The commission was a house for a large family. The program was therefore divided: the first level for the parents and shared areas, and the second for the children. In this way, when the children eventually move out, the parents can continue to use the house without the feeling of empty spaces.

The site had a three-meter slope from the street, and an irrigation canal crossed it, leaving the buildable area much lower. The solution was to raise the house by one meter and orient it to the north, as far from the street as possible, to achieve better sunlight and views.

Three ascending platforms were then created: the house, a grassed area connected by a large stepped grandstand, and the swimming pool. The interior of the first floor was conceived as completely open and connected to the garden, with only the minimum necessary walls.

The house was set back from its southern boundary to incorporate a patio with a reflecting pool which, thanks to the Venturi effect generated by the prevailing winds passing through the house, helps to cool the interior.

Structurally, the first level uses concrete walls and steel beams. Above these, a grid of wooden beams supports the second floor, adding texture and warmth to the interior, and projects to the north with an overhang that shelters the terrace and controls solar exposure. The form recalls a chupalla, a traditional straw hat from the Chilean countryside.