christian izquierdo builds pinewood vacation home on top of a sand dune

perched on top of a sand dune in front of a long, open beach, ‘house in morillos’ is a honest wooden structure serving as a vacation house in coastal chile. the project completed by cristián izquierdo arquitecto is designed as a complete unit, consisting of four similar structures that gradually open to their surroundings starting from a central kitchen.

the project consists of four similar structures that gradually open towards the landscape starting from the kitchen

the seasonal home can cater up to three couples; the rectangular structure made up of laminated timber beams that feature 72 doors that can fully open or close off to the landscape.‘its intermittent occupation and isolated location led us to think of it as a superposition of two models: the motel and the cabin.’ explains architect cristian izquierdo. ‘the motel suggests self-sufficient rooms served from the outside by a second access, while the cabin presumes a centralized space that brings the community together.’ the organization of the home features a set of four rooms which wrap around a shared kitchen, forming a larger compact structure enclosed by mobile panels, which open different possibilities of use according to their position.

one end looks out to the horizon and the other towards the land

cristián izquierdo arquitecto‘s approached the planning of each space to be all equal in relation to their size and make up. a common beamed ceiling covers the entire space with two sides open to the outside and a wall separating them from the adjoining unit. these four structures are placed together in a perpendicular axis from one another, conforming a cross plan over a squared base. this allows the guests to have their own private room and courtyard but also shared common area at the same time.

a light-filled common area with a living room, kitchen and dinning room looks out to the ocean

the living room is connected to a kitchen and dinning room in one common area. at the opposite end, a guest room faces onto the wetland and at either side, two units host equal master bedrooms-courtyard facing the peninsulas located at both ends of the beach. the beamed ceiling is developed in four separate rectangular structures, settled over the walls and a perimeter porch avoiding diagonal main beams. the rotated disposition of these four structural units leaves a skylight above the central kitchen.

the rotated plan of the four structural units leaves a 190 x 190 cm skylight above the kitchen

outside these rows of pillars, 72 wooden doors wrap the outer perimeter house. when opened outwards, each room-courtyard is a private space connected to the outside by a row of portals framing the horizon. when closed, the scheme becomes an intimate space, protected from the wind and the views, but opened to its neighbors through a perimeter porch.

each unit consists of an interior space connected to a courtyard, both covered by a common set of beams,
with two sides open to the dune