A retreat house in Chile
This home was crafted with a tasteful and artistic gesture. The home, designed by the Tokyo-based architecture company Office (SANNA) of Ryue Nishizawa, is covered and defined by an undulating roof that appears to be lying on the ground like a wave. A weekend house would be covered with a sloping concrete design. A hideaway on the Chilean coast called House in Los Vilos was created by Ryue Nishizawa of the eponymous Japanese studio, who also co-owns the business SANAA with architect Kazuyo Sejima. The home is situated on a property on a promontory that faces the Pacific Ocean at the very end of the development.
This residence is being developed for a spectacular Chilean site near the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the eight residences designed by Chilean architects, the project also included eight houses each designed by eight Japanese architects. This house is a part of a residential complex that consists of sixteen homes. This house is located at the tip of a little peninsula that projects into the Pacific. The layout follows the form of the promontory landscape in a long, narrow space with floors that rise and fall in accordance with the slopes of the location and are covered by a roof above. SANAA architects have really made a unique effort!
The Structure
SANAA’s creative attempt in using three massive slabs that resemble rocky relics that have emerged from the waters make up the structure of the home; they appear to have been there forever. Each intervention in this new series of works has been methodically constructed by its surroundings since the ground on which they are situated is of the highest natural importance. The undulating roof was created by SANAA’s office to mimic the site’s rocky terrain, which juts out into the lake. The long, curving home is divided into sections by the dips of the undulations instead of using walls to delineate them. SANAA determined the shape by the roof’s gentle division of the area below into parts when it reaches the ground in certain places. There aren’t any walls to speak of, so it’s more like a structure made of ground and roof that’s surrounded by a lot of wildlife.
Innovation in Construction
SANAA aimed at connecting arches diagonally organized the landing points that allowed for the construction of enormous spans with several openings to the surrounding landscape. The room has a variety of openness that is impossible to produce with traditional arch constructions, like the vaulted roof. Section cuts that show the location and height of each scaffolding support are made using the central axis, which runs from east to west across the house. SANAA aimed to adapt intricate curving geometry which was accomplished using a coordinate system that involved hundreds of cuts.
The roof’s sinuous connection creates a landscape-like continuity that aspires for harmony with the wild and magnificent natural surroundings, giving the impression that the volume is less than the actual floor space. The monolithic roof of the House at Los Vilos is supported by steel columns and transparent walls around the perimeter. The SANAA used the angular lines to provide greater openings to the environment, and the arches span between them. It was chosen by SANAA to employ large sheets of laminated glass rather than double glazing, using fixed panes with no frames, in order to fill as little of the outer walls as possible.
The arrangement of Spaces
SANAA placed a 40 x 60-centimeter grid of formwork as the outline for this internal space, which is defined by the concrete shell that surrounds it. The moldings and the thick fabric of steel reinforcement, which combined will create the margins and the center of the concrete slab, are supported by this imaginary mass, which gives us an impression of what may be the negative shape of a sculpture. SANAA divided the home into three sections by the roof: the front sauna, the center bedroom, and living room, and the back kitchen and eating space that opens to a terrace. The roof slants upward at this far end to cover an outside area. The public area, which includes the dining room, is located at the point of the cape facing the breathtaking vistas, while quiet private areas, such as bedrooms, are situated away from the sea.
A staircase leads down to the main bedroom suite, which is hidden on a lower level of the home. It features a patio that protrudes out of the hillside and a glass front. Inside, the board-marked concrete slab roof is left visible and is combined with hardwood flooring and furniture. Three independent wood islands in the kitchen don’t block the view, and the adjacent dining area is outfitted with a black table and light-colored chairs. The ceiling above is illuminated by white pendant lights. The house’s sauna area, which has a deep white tub with a view of the ocean waves slamming against the cliff, is a noteworthy feature.
Citations
1) Gibson, E. and Palma, C. (2020). A retreat house in Chile facing the Pacific Ocean. [Online image] dezeen.com. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2022].
2) Gibson, E. and Palma, C. (2020). House in Los Vilos’ Monolithic Roof Is Held up by Glazed Walls and Steel Columns on the Perimeter, Deezen.com, 13 July 2020, www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2022.
3) Gibson, E. and Palma, C. (2020). The Concrete Cantilever Roof Opening up to the Its Surroundings,”Deezen.com, 13 July 2020, www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2022.
4) Gibson, E. (2020). The floor plan of the house showing circulation of the spaces. [Online image] deezen.com. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2022].
5) Gibson, E. and Palma, C. (2020b). The bedroom with a beautiful view of the Pacific. [Online image] deezen.com. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2022].
6) Gibson, E. and Palma, C. (2020c). The natural wooden oaked dining area with an overview of the the nature. [Online Image] dezeen.com. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2022].
7) Gibson, E. and Palma, C. (2020d). The private sauna space with immense of natural light pouring inside. [Online Image] deezen.com. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/13/house-in-los-vilos-chile-ryue-nishizawa/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2022].
