Tunken House by Nicolas Loi in Algarrobo, Chile

Project: Tunken House Architects: Nicolas Loi Location: Algarrobo, Chile Area: 2,690 sq ft Photography: Marcos Mendizabal

Tunken House by Nicolas Loi

The Tunken House by Nicolas Loi is a stunning example of how architecture can harmoniously blend with its surroundings. Located by the sea in Algarrobo, Chile, the house was designed with a logical distribution of spaces that ensures excellent relationships with the context. The main zones of the house are on the first floor, allowing for an unobstructed view of the sea. The open terrace serves as a boundary between public and private areas of the house, while also providing protection from strong regional winds.

The construction technology using wood was employed to create the architectural design, making the structure more minimalistic than additive. The main element in the final result is the construction technology, which led to a stunning and harmonious design.

The house is located on the beach territory of Tunken, on central Chile's coast, in a relatively flat area by the sea. Due to the limited views from the plot level toward the ocean, the first design decision was to place the most important parts of the house on the first level where sea and beach views are easier to enjoy.

The living area, kitchen, dining room, and main bedroom are on the first floor along with the open terrace. This open terrace separates public from private zones and is enclosed on three sides, thus protecting against strong winds. The terrace also allows sunlight coming from the back of the house to illuminate the main areas. An external staircase connects the terrace with the garden. Children's rooms, guest rooms, and parking spaces are located on the ground level.

The design aims to achieve logical spatial distribution and a logical connection with the context. The final design is the result of wood construction technology; like a wooden box or pallet, house spaces are created by flowing one wooden element after another according to the logic of wood. As a result, structural wooden elements become what shapes the architectural design, and architecture as 'design' seeks to 'disappear', transforming into 'construction'. In this regard, architecture is intended to 'remove' rather than 'add', becoming a more minimalistic technique than additive. Thus, the construction technology becomes the main protagonist in the final result.

The wood construction logic, through closely spaced columns with short beams and short sheathing between the columns, allows proper material performance, avoiding deformations. The column system ensures transparency, allowing views of the sea to the south and permitting sunlight penetration from the rear or northern side. (The sun comes from the north in the southern hemisphere). In addition to the main structure, two secondary structures were added: short sheathing walls between columns in service areas such as the kitchen or bathrooms, and wooden blinds between columns in public zones to avoid excessive northern sun exposure and offer some privacy from neighboring views.

- Nicolas Loi