Project: MM House
Architecture: Benjamin Goñi Arquitectos and Claro + Westendarp Arquitectos
Location: Nilque, Chile
Area: 430 m2
Year: 2023
Photo Credits: Nico Saieh
MM House, designed by Benjamin Goñi Arquitectos and Claro + Westendarp Arquitectos, stands on the northern shore of a lake in southern Chile. The site extends from steep hills to the lakeshore, featuring a significant slope and numerous native trees. Because the design brief required that no trees be touched, the house integrates them, maximizing views of the volcanoes, lake, and vegetation.
The biggest challenge was overcoming the steep 45-degree slope. To address this, the architects placed half of the house on the land while elevating the other half on stilts.
The project organizes the space into two parallel bars of rooms aligned with the slope at different levels. The upper bar includes the master bedroom and a living room, while the lower bar contains the children’s bedrooms. Moreover, these bars connect through a volume of common spaces, which include the entrance (chiflonera), kitchen, dining room, living room, and terrace, providing greater amplitude.
Given the heavy rainfall in the area, the architects proposed a simple volume design to avoid water issues. Consequently, the roof over the lower bedroom volume serves as a covered terrace. Additionally, the entire exterior of MM House features demolition larch shingles, a wood that requires no maintenance and is ideal for rainy environments. Inside, the house showcases local pine siding.
