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Opening to the sea.

Casa Ensignia Gerber
Tunquén, Valparaíso Region
Private house / Built
Casa Ensignia Gerber · Opening to the sea
Architecture
Francisco Cepeda + Álvaro Ramírez
Collaborator
Nicolás Cabargas
Design / Construction
2010 / 2011–2012
Built area
140 m²
Structural engineering
Alex Popp
Photography
Marcos Mendizabal

One envelope, two areas.

The house brings the main rooms and guest bedrooms together under a continuous envelope. Slate encloses the street side; glazing and terraces open towards the ocean. A covered outdoor space between the two areas provides shelter from the wind.

01

A sheltered face.

Folds in the roof and façade form an envelope clad in black slate. Openings towards the entrance are limited, protecting the interior from the street and weather.

Slate continues across roof and façade.
Slate continues across roof and façade.
A lightwell within the street-facing envelope.
A lightwell within the street-facing envelope.
02

A terrace between two areas.

The main rooms follow the contours. The guest wing changes direction to seek northern views. A covered terrace connects them and shelters against the cold southwesterly wind.

The covered terrace connects the two parts of the house.
The covered terrace connects the two parts of the house.
03

Living towards the horizon.

Glazing opens the rooms to the sea on the north and west. Eaves and timber frame the transition between rooms and terraces.

The outdoor gallery and ocean views.
The outdoor gallery and ocean views.
The interior opens to the landscape at dusk.
The interior opens to the landscape at dusk.