Tunquen House is an oceanfront property nestled high on a cliff over 50 meters above sea level, the incredible vision of Nicolás Lipthay Allen / L2C, located in Tunquen, Algarrobo, Valparaíso Region, Chile. The house can be found 160 kilometers outside of the city of Santiago, sitting in a contemplative and respectful manner, as a frame for nature and the environment.

It is defined as a single volume of white concrete which is divided into three areas. The main area houses the living room, dining and kitchen, leaving at one end the master bedroom and its services, and at the other the bedrooms for children and guests. This way, the house can set two scales of use, the first is when the owners are at the house by themselves, and the second is when they are there with the kids or guests.

The climatic conditions of the area, dominated by a powerful south wind, conditioned the design. Attached to the living area is a courtyard that has multiple functions, the most important is to be outside sheltered from the wind, in connection with the view and the interior of the house. This same courtyard provides the access, an outdoor dining area and garden.

The structure of the house is made up of a “bracket” of reinforced concrete which along with the fireplace and the walls of the exterior courtyards shape the projected volume, the roof is based on beams and wood, giving texture and greater height to the spaces.

Photos: Nico Saieh