monolithic humo house rises in chile with architecture by iván bravo

iván bravo completes a lakeside home in chile

Humo House, a newly completed architectural project by Iván Bravo in collaboration with associate architect Martín Rojas and Juan Oyarzún, is located in the rural landscape of Futrono, Chile. This unique residence has taken shape within this pastoral context to exemplify contemporary architecture with respect for its natural surroundings.

The project’s inspiration comes from the verses of Pablo Neruda’s Crepusculario: ‘That nothing binds us / that nothing unites us.’ These lines resonate deeply with the couple for whom the house was built. Despite having a stable relationship, they had always lived in separate but nearby apartments in Santiago, Chile. This arrangement contributed to their unhurried approach to building a shared home, a project that took ten years to realize on an isolated plot next to Lake Ranco.

images © Marcos Zegers

the angular architecture of ‘humo house’

Humo House is shaped by architect Iván Bravo as an exact cube aligned with the cardinal directions and divided into two diagonal halves. This design creates distinct facades that each serve different purposes. The main facades take advantage of their height to capture scenic views of Lake Ranco, while the others slope towards a low entrance, balancing grandness with intimacy.

The house’s exterior and interior are unified by the use of rough wooden slats, creating a cohesive spatial sequence. The pronounced roofs enhance this unity, leading from a spacious living room to the bedrooms. These rooms are symmetrically positioned at the end of a hallway, allowing the inhabitants to enjoy both independence and the feeling of jointly forming their residence.

Humo House is a new architectural project by Iván Bravo, located in Futrono, Chile