casa chica’s transparent facade immerses residents in the serenity of the chilean pine forest 

Alfredo Gonzalez Briceño immerses inhabitants in nature

Engulfed in greenery and serenity in a rural coastal village in Navidad, Chile, Casa Chica embraces simplicity and austerity alongside a charming contemporary spirit to connect inhabitants with nature. Alfredo Gonzalez Briceño Arquitectos has conceived the home as a traditional wooden shed-like structure with a single nave topped by a gabled zinc roof, melding it with the existing urban landscape with minimal intervention to the natural context.

Simultaneously, its distinct character possesses the urban curiosity of contemplating the surroundings — a duality which is reflected in the positioning of the home to completely open to sea views on side, diverging from the vernacular typology of discreet openings. The facade strikes a balance between transparency and opacity, fostering a relationship between the inhabitants and nature while also ensuring privacy and seclusion.

a seamless transition between outdoors and indoors

The residence sits within La Vega de Pupuy, a village renowned for its farming, fishing, and seaweed gathering traditions located on the coast, 180 kilometers southwest of Santiago. Alfredo Gonzalez Briceño Arquitectos was tasked with creating a refuge as simple as possible, met with the challenge of integrating Casa Chica into the terrain, with expansive ocean views on one side and the ravines of a pine forest on the other. In response to this, the architects strategically positioned the home in the lowest section of the land, which not only ensured shelter from any external influence but also informed the design’s transparency and opacity in its facades. This secluded context presented a dual challenge, requiring the architects to work with limited technology and local labor lacking specialization, while also sensitively intervening an idyllic landscape to maintain its allure. 

Casa Chica’s material palette showcases natural and robust elements, with a structure crafted from traditional wooden carpentry that is exposed along both the facade and interior, lending a warm and organic ambiance. The internal walls are adorned with wooden cladding, contributing to a seamless transition between the interior and the natural surroundings. Pre-painted corrugated zinc panels top the structure, offering robust protection from the elements. Inside, the architects have integrated an open floor plan consisting of a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and a loft in the gabled roof to accommodate occasional visitors.

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project info:

name: Casa Chica
designer: Alfredo Gonzalez Briceño Arquitectos

location: La Vega de Pupuya, Navidad, Chile

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