whale! architecture perches casa encallada along chilean coast

whale! architecture perches casa encallada along chilean coast
all images © hugo bertolotto

situated in close proximity to the cliff’s edge in the beach town of tunquén chile, the architects at whale! have designed a single family home called ‘casa encallada’. the construction of the three-bedroom residence follows the dramatic topography of the slope – resulting in the layered composition of the levels within the dwelling.

the home overlooks a scenery where the boxed estuary opens to the tunquén wetland

the angular-roofed structure is conceived as a light volume clad entirely in charred pine wood and set on a concrete base that links the rocky terrain..

the family home is located in tunquén, algarrobo, chile

internally, the layout is composed of five different levels wrapped in a more neutral palette of light wood sourced from recycled houses of valparaiso. generous living spaces have been given to the communal areas to encourage activity with clerestory and large windows inviting natural light inside. the multilevelled spaces are capped with a sloping ceiling and lead out to a large terrace which frames the wetland and coastal landscape.

in contrast to the exteriors, a lighter and neutral palette is used within

see more recent coastal residences in chile projects here, here and here.

a sheltered terrace looks out to the wetland landscape and pacific ocean

the bedrooms are located on the upper floors

parts of the interiors are used from recycled wood sourced from homes in valparaiso

‘we like to think that there is some relationship between the heights of these new spaces and heights of the houses and rooms from which these woods.’ – whale! architecture on their use of different types of timber.

entrance into casa encallada