casa el maqui by gitc arquitectura protects local ecology

casa el maqui by gitc arquitectura protects local ecology
image © felipe díaz contardo
all images courtesy of gitc arquitectura

‘casa el maqui’ designed by chilean practice gitc arquitectura is situated in el maqui brooke, a protected natural reserve along a coastal mountain range just south west of santiago. the client asked for a holiday home for six people, surrounded by a garden that would be predominantly characterized by water.  the architects sought out a site that was ravaged by erosion and contained no vegetation to avoid destroying any pristine landscape in the construction of the project- it is a site that also allows the opportunity to regenerate local flora and fauna. the house consists of two conceptual elements: two glass-formed bases separated across the property and a timber volume that acts more as a linear bridge spanning the two volumes on the site. 
image © felipe díaz contardo

the ground levels contain the social areas enclosed within walls of sliding glass doors to open the space to the exterior and allow for ventilation. wooden platforms project over the surrounding lush garden and sunken retention pond that nourishes newly planted vegetation and supports the local ecosystem. the private bedrooms are located within the upper level branching out from the double-height living area. they are placed in a linear fashion to give each one their own views over the yard and valley. a staircase and a bridge also give direct access to the site directly from the upstairs.

image © felipe díaz contardo

exterior walkways connect the house to various parts of the site
image © felipe díaz contardo

bridge leads directly to the upper story bedrooms
image © felipe díaz contardo

wood-clad interior illuminated by plenty of natural light
image © felipe díaz contardo

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project info:

architecture: gitc arquitectura.
location: quebrada el maqui, olmué, chile.
architects: rodrigo belmar expósito, felipe vera buschmann,
collaborators: carlos estay olguín, rodrigo del castillo celis, felipe muñoz sepúlveda, logna barrientos s.
construction: gitc
structural calculation: roberto soto v.
sanitary projection: simona simonati
lighting: sebastián díaz rovano.
landscaping: gitc arquitectura.
modeling: gitc arquitectura.
area: 253,11 m².
completion: 2013 – 2014
photography: felipe díaz contardo