rudolphy + soffia revisit the design process with ritoque hostel

working from material to design, the architects complete a project based on standard practices of local craftsman to reduce waste and cost.

danny hudson November 30, 2014 2 min

chilean architects gabriel rudolphy and alejandro soffia revisited construction processes in order to complete the hostal ritoque (ritoque hostel) maximizing efficiency and cost effectivenes. a client with lofty desires and a tight budget — often the case in chile — led the architects to closely study the local building techniques from the tradesmen around ritoque beach which was to become the site. by working with the professionals who would provide the raw material and labor, the rudolphy and soffia in a sense worked backwards to arrive at a design. instead of working the material to the design, they worked the design to the exact specifications of the material which would reduce excess labor, cost and waste while producing a high-quality product.

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(left) image © juan durán sierralta (also top image) | (right) image © alejandro soffia

the result is three two-story units, a structure for utilities and a private apartment for the client. local timber at standard dimensions defined the proportions and dimensions of the wooden structures. sitting upon heavy timber columns, the living units are raised off the ground to accommodate the sloped site, also helpful in situations where the tide may be unusually high. glass walls oriented towards the ocean provide great views and natural light illuminating the all-wood interior.

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image © juan durán sierralta

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image © juan durán sierralta

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entrance into the volumes
image © juan durán sierralta

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main interior spaces
image © juan durán sierralta

HOSTAL RITOQUE 15
living room steps up into the kitchen and dining area
image © juan durán sierralta

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dining area open onto the exterior deck
image © juan durán sierralta

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living room
image © juan durán sierralta

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image © juan durán sierralta

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private deck from the bedroom
image © pablo casals-aguirre

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bedroom
image © juan durán sierralta

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view at night
image © juan durán sierralta

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units illuminated at night
image © juan durán sierralta

gabriel rudolphy alejandro soffia: hostal ritoque

project info:

name: hostal ritoque
location: playa de ritoque s/n, quintero, región de valparaíso, chile
owner: diego arenas / dayenú vencilla
project: 2012
building: 2014
site: 402 m2
built area: 183 m2
budget: $650/ m2
structural engineering: josé manuel morales / gabriel rudolphy
contractor: juan tapia / francisco tapia / diego arenas
photography: alejandro soffia, pablo casals-aguirre, juan durán