A house is as much its exteriors as it is its interiors – location, as they say, is key.
This holds especially true for a family's summer home in southern Chile, built on a sloping plot of land overlooking Lake Riñihue and the Andes.
"The clients wanted a modern house that also reflected the architecture of the south of Chile – that of simple lines, adapting to the climate of the area," says Gonzalo Rudolphy, architect and principal of Rudolphy + Bizama Arquitectos, who worked on the home together with María José Bizama, the firm's co-founder . "The constant and clear view of Lake Riñihue and the Andean mountain range was a fundamental condition for homeowners."
Located in a remote area in the Los Ríos region, the house – belonging to a couple and their two children – is subject to the area's extreme weather conditions, says Rudolphy, including heavy rains. A metallic panel unifying the walls with the roof was especially installed across the three-volume house, comprised of a communal area, the parents's quarters, guest rooms and service rooms.
Apart from reinforcing its structure, the architects sought to engage the house's immediate environment and surrounding natural gifts in its design. Sunlight is let in through north-facing sun roofs, while massive windows frame lake and mountain views in every area of the home. 'Interior gardens' also create a source of light and ventilation within the service areas.
Inside, a light wooden motif contrasts nicely with the dark, boxy exteriors, providing warmth for its inhabitants.
Cream linen in the bedrooms complement the wooden walls and surfaces nicely, while contemporary touches can be found in the navy blue kitchen and its beige-and-terracotta floor tiles.
"The most challenging thing was to design and build a house in such a remote place in southern Chile," says Rudolphy – a challenge they met with skill and consideration for the family's preferences and needs, no doubt.
"For the owners, the greatest pleasure is how the whole family can enjoy the large common spaces of the living room, dining room, kitchen and terrace, that overlook the lake and the mountain range of the Andes," he says. "This space allows everyone to do different things while at the same time, sharing time together as a family."
The architects behind the house feel similarly. "Our favourite feature is the spatial fluidity of the house and how you can inhabit all of the spaces connected," says Rudolphy.
"Our favourite area is the entrance hall, which allows us to see the lake and understand the dimensions of the house."
