whale! architecture plans casa tunquén as an escape from the city

whale! architecture plans casa tunquén as an escape from the city
all images © felipe fontecilla

‘casa tunquén’ by whale! architecture is coastal retreat positioned on the hills overlooking boca the tunquén beach and pacific ocean in chile. the house is designed as a lightweight volume, wrapped entirely in a charred pine wood and set on a concrete base that references the rocky terrain in which the structure is based. 

following a similar strategy as their design of ‘casa encallada‘, a robust black shell covers the building which works with the uneven topography of the hill. presented with no openings at the rear, natural light enters from the clerestory windows at the sides and from the large sliding doors that lead onto a terrace with views of the ocean.

the kitchen and living room are distinguished by their different leveled floor-plates

in contrast to its dark exterior, the series of rooms use a light wood – creating a neutral and continuous setting. the home facilitates to the necessities of the family in terms of program and energy consumption; a sustainable system powers the electricity and water needed. due to its isolated location, there is no power line in the area and instead, uses a system of solar panels, while a pump draws water from wells. this inherently, allows casa tunquen to become an independent and autonomous retreat – acting as an escape from urban and city life

‘white grout on the walls and the ceiling preserve the building, while during dusk the natural light in the inside, and reveal the variety of colors of the environment, the pacific ocean, the twilight, and the vegetation – all appearing in a continuous movement and transformation.’ – whale! architects