Chile: The Deck House, by Felipe Assadi & Francisca Pulido

A deck of wood, serving as a terrace on a valley side, for admiring the view. Enclose that with a glass shell and protect that with more wood: this is how the Deck House was built, on a plane in the valley of Runque, in Maitencillo, in Chile, by architects Felipe Assadi and Francesca Pulido.

After the end of the Pinochet dictatorship, although the Chilean economy is booming, state intervention and opportunities for good architects making public housing and social building in general are reduced to a minimum. This leaves only private residences to make an impact in design and serve as examples of quality architecture. The deck house is one of these examples.

The lamellar deck in front of the house rests on the hillside following its contour and then extends towards the horizon, housing the pool. Ascending towards the mountain, the deck folds back on itself, forming the main house volume, turning into support, wall, roof. It is a house made for people who like to live in the open air and shun formality, full of huge crystal un-curtained windows.

The shape of the house was influenced also by the decision that the resources were aimed principally to the terrace area, the interior space being enough only for a large living area incorporated within. thus it was decided to resolve the housing based on two components, a deck and a living area. The living area was supposed to house a kitchen, dining room and a master bedroom but, this being a summer house, the concept changed and incorporated a group sleeping area with three different levels, behind the spine splitting the house in two. This contains the service spaces and bathrooms.

The large living room, dining room and kitchen, all in one space at the front of the spine, looks out on the deck. This is the open part of the house, with the glass front uncovered by wood, in contrast to the back of the house where the wooden slats provide protection and shade to the sleeping area.

The inclined part of the deck at the front, following the hill slope, serves as a huge chaise longue, for those resting by the pool.

Another chaise longue is the roof, with an opposite incline towards the west, facing the Andean cordillera, serving as a sun deck.

Photos by Christobal Palma, courtesy of Felipe Assadi and Francisca Pulido.

Comments

[Jordan Cappella]

What a brilliant house. Keep up your great posts.

Thanks,
Jordan

[Miguel Sanchez]

I had the chance to meet Felipe Assadi on a conference in Venezuela, he has great and simple solutions to the architecture programs of their clients, you should check out some of their other biuldings. In this particular case they accomplished to make a sort of hideaway place with low budget, giving an espectacular view of the surrounding areas.

Thanks, nice blog...