FLD House | 57STUDIO

The home is located in a Santiago neighborhood in the Andean foothills where the climate is dry and warm during most of the year. Viewed from the street, the property presents a smooth slope ascending towards the mountains. The goal was to build a single-story building that would occupy much of the property. The structure features three intersecting wings on different levels that follow the shape of the slope. This intersecting placement creates three patios and various orientations that define the location of the rooms based on their use and need for natural light.

The central wing contains the public spaces, kitchen and terraces opening onto the two main patios. The upper wing, which is oriented towards a third, more private patio, contains the bedrooms, studies and a barbeque area that opens out towards the pool on the highest part of the property. The lower wing, which is close to the street, houses the service areas and garage.

The wings have reinforced concrete walls which are staggered to delineate each structure, defining the orientations and supporting the three wooden roofs. Laminated radiata pine wood was used, which is an abundant resource that quickly renews itself. The roofs were designed to provide broad spaces and generous eaves to cover the terraces and protect the interior spaces from the sun.

A light, wide-span construction system allowed for the incorporation of installations and generated ventilation within the thickness of the roof, which lowers the inside temperature during the summer months. In the exterior areas, the structure is exposed, combining solar and ventilation control solutions based on each orientation. Radiata pine also was used in the windows, reinforcing the idea of contrasting the lightness of the wood with the weight of the concrete.