Floor Plans
| Project | Casa SI |
| Architecture | Iragüen Viñuela Arquitecto |
| Project Team | Daniel Iragüen, Claudio Viñuela, Gustavo Schweitzer, Vicente de la Maza, María José Çaldumbide, Alexa Napp, Victor Cárcamo |
| Structural Engineering | Roberto Stocker Lagos |
| Structure Provider | Timber Ingenieria |
| Sanitary Engineering | Marcelo Santibañez |
| Gas Systems | Manuel Gonzalez Ponce |
| Topography | Enrique Osorio |
| Contractor | Mario Cuevas |
Perched on a gently sloping hillside near the Pacific Ocean, Casa SI is a study in restraint, structure, and warmth. Designed by Santiago-based studio Iragüen Viñuela Arquitecto, the square-shaped timber home sits on the rural outskirts of Algarrobo, a seaside town south of Valparaíso, where loose planning controls offered an unusual degree of freedom.
The house was conceived as a primary residence for a couple relocating from northern Chile. Rather than imposing a dominant form on the landscape, the architects positioned the building at the edge of the subdivision, orienting it outward to capture long views of a green ravine to the south and the distant ocean horizon to the west.
From the outset, the project became an opportunity to test the architectural potential of prefabricated timber. The studio sought a design that balanced efficiency with atmosphere—rational in its construction logic, yet tactile and expressive in its spatial experience.
Two Volumes, One Clear Logic
The overall scheme is composed of two volumes: a completed single-storey main residence and a future two-storey guest house planned for later construction. The finished dwelling takes the form of a lifted square measuring 13 by 13 metres, elevated slightly above the ground to engage the terrain while preserving views and airflow.
The structure was assembled from prefabricated radiata pine elements, produced off-site and brought together with precision. Glued-laminated timber forms the primary structural frame, while pressure-treated timber defines the partitions. Painted pine siding wraps the exterior, reinforcing the building’s clarity and coherence.
According to the architects, the prefabrication process demanded careful coordination with suppliers but significantly shortened construction time. The components arrived on site ready to assemble, reducing errors and functioning much like a carefully calibrated architectural kit.
A Grid That Organises—and Liberates
A one-metre grid underpins the entire design, governing the placement of columns, beams, doors, and windows. Secondary beams are spaced at precise 50-centimetre intervals, reinforcing the structural rhythm and aligning with the logic of prefabricated production.
This modular discipline results in an orderly, easily constructed framework. Yet within that structure, the interior spaces are anything but rigid. The grid recedes in perceptual importance, allowing rooms to unfold with variation and openness.
Compact rooms—bedrooms and service areas—occupy the four corners of the plan. At the centre, a generous open space combines kitchen, dining, and living areas into a shared core. Here, two visual axes intersect, running north–south and east–west, anchoring the home within its landscape.
Framing the Landscape from All Sides
Large expanses of glazing extend in every direction, offering layered views of the site and beyond. From the central living area, occupants can visually register the full depth of the house, the surrounding terrain, and the changing light throughout the day.
Although the ocean lies to the south and remains visible, the architects deliberately avoided a linear plan oriented solely toward the coast. Instead, they chose a centralised layout that assigns equal value to all surrounding landscapes.
This decision was partly pragmatic. As the site does not sit directly on the waterfront, future development could eventually compromise ocean views. The ravine, vegetation, and broader topography, by contrast, offered a more enduring visual connection.
Outdoor Rooms and Circulation
Exterior spaces extend the home’s spatial logic outward. A timber deck to the east functions as both entry point and viewing platform, overlooking a xerophytic garden planted with drought-tolerant species. A mature pine tree—one of three preserved on site—anchors the composition and softens the geometry.
Another deck lines the western elevation, while the southern edge opens toward a swimming pool embedded into the slope. A network of paths and outdoor stairs links these elements, encouraging movement around the house and sustained engagement with the site.
Environmental performance is quietly integrated into the design. The building takes advantage of prevailing coastal breezes, enabling effective cross-ventilation, while openings on multiple facades allow natural light to shift across the interior over the course of the day.
Order Without Sterility
Through its timber-based prefabrication system, Casa SI demonstrates how modular construction can be both precise and sensorial. Exposed beams and columns, diagonal bracing, and the fine proportions of the structural elements give the house a distinct architectural language rooted in material honesty.
Rather than treating timber as a neutral building block, Iragüen Viñuela embraces its texture, rhythm, and expressive capacity—resulting in a home that feels calm and composed, yet deeply connected to its coastal setting.
Floor Plans
