Located in the Andean pre cordillera next to Santiago, the capital of Chile, the place has amazing views over the valley. However, the steepness of the slope, between 30% to 40%, makes it a difficult place to build plant and inhabit. The house has three floors and leaves 1040 square meters available for the garden. The site has no vegetation except for two big native shrubs.
The program required by the client was a barbecue a pool and the garden. According to this assignment the project places the pool in front of the house leaving a big terrace next to it. At each side of the pool two long and thin terraces are built. Both of them are completely horizontal, higher than de field and make it possible to have grass lawns in the place. The north and south terraces are sustained with stone gabions, usually used in local river banks.
The barbecue is located below the parking area, living the parking floor as a roof. Between the lawns and the barbecue the project maintains the natural levels of the site and stabilizes the slope with shrubs and colorful flowers. To connect both programs the area is crosses by an irregular stair built with prefabricated concrete pieces. The stairs intend, with time, to get mixed with the surrounding vegetation. Finally below both lawns the site remains almost untouched with few interventions; the plantation of a few native species, three lines of trees to give points of privacy to the house and the garden, and a path that ends in gabions where the users can sit and watch the surroundings. The limits of the site are planted with big native green trees.
GARDEN IN THE ANDEAN PRECORDILLERA
Location | Lo Barnechea, Santiago, Chile
Architect | Paula Aguirre
Photos | Paula Aguirre
Year | 2014
Area | 1040 m2
