Tierras Blancas House

Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne

TIERRAS BLANCAS HOUSE

Alberto Browne + Hernán Fontaine

ARCHITECTS
Alberto Browne + Hernán Fontaine

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Ingevsa - José Manuel Morales

CATEGORY
Houses

AREA
360 m²

SITE AREA
30 acres

LOCATION
Zapallar, Chile

YEAR
2012

CONSTRUCTION
Tamarugo Construcciones

Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne

Text description provided by architect.

The brief was to build a residential house for a family and guests in the area of Catapilco, the 5th Region in Chile.

Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne
Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne

The Principal idea was to build the house with wood. The main strategy was to focus on the wooden section of the house and secondly on its surroundings.

It was built with wooden pillars all along the house which are separated at 120 cm intervals. This creates a longitudinal house and highlights the methodology of the construction. This repetition forms a sense of infinity.

Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne
Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne
Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne
Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne

The predominant material is wood, for the structure, the floor, the ceiling and the walls. This material was chosen because it is a natural element. Added to which, it was more economical and on site there was little water and electricity.

The second feature was the location. Catapilco is situated between the coast and the Andes. The site is close to a eucalyptus forest. The North side faces the coast and the South side faces the mountain.

Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne
Tierras Blancas House
© Courtesy of Alberto Browne

It is a place where nature is a key element. Therefore, the strategy was to use nature’s potential. All the bedrooms face the North side for the view. The long corridor is situated on the South side.

It crosses through the whole house giving a sensation of space and of merging with the hills.There are many points of entry to the house so that the people can feel free while walking through it and also can feel a connection with the surroundings.


Tierras Blancas House
Elevation
Tierras Blancas House
Elevation
Tierras Blancas House
Elevation
Tierras Blancas House
Elevation


Tierras Blancas House
Section
Tierras Blancas House
Detail Section


Tierras Blancas House
Floor Plan
Tierras Blancas House
Site Plan

T +56 9 90018809
Alberto Browne + Tomás Browne
Santiago, Chile