aguilo + pedraza designs a corten steel building for family life in chilean patagonia

located in chilean patagonia on the eastern bank of the rupanco lake lies ‘apus kankay’ designed by aguilo + pedraza. commissioned by a private client, the brief was to build a gathering place for family life. envisioned not as a house, but as a pavilion, the spaces can be used in different ways for different purposes.

all images © marcos zegers

the first level is organized by aguilo + pedraza around a double hearth with grill on one side and a chimney on the other. the dual condition allows the spaces to be configured for use as a barbeque areas as well as a living room and dining room. the second level houses a common space that can also be used as a bedroom. the structure that connects the first and second levels forms the roof of the exterior patio.

there were two key factors for the formal definition of the pavilion: the rain and winds molded the project. the building is a continuous corten steel fuselage designed to protect the various spaces from a changeable, extreme climate. the icy south wind of the summer is blocked by the bay on the first level. the northern winter winds are halted by the stairway that leads to the second level. finally, the section that connects the two levels covers the exterior patio to protect it from the constant rains and sun. two century-old trees round out the final location of the building in their relationships with nearby elements and the far-off landscape.

1/11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

project name: apus kankay
architecture firm: aguilo + pedraza 
architects: diego aguilo ch. / rodrigo pedraza p.
associate architect: mauricio urzúa s.
surface area: 2798.62 ft2 (260 m2)
location: rupanco lake, tenth lake district, chile
materiality: corten steel, wood, steel and concrete
project year: 2013
construction year: 2014-2015
photography: marcos zegers