The house began as the renovation of an old dwelling with minimal architectural value, located in a residential neighborhood in the northern sector of Santiago. Only the ground floor was retained, where strategic walls were demolished to expand spaces and modify the layout. The partial demolition process revealed a poor structural foundation, and for safety reasons, nearly the entire existing structure had to be demolished.
However, the previous floor plan acted as a guiding framework upon which architectural decisions were made—decisions that would have otherwise been different, making its role pivotal in the design process.
The ground floor, primarily built with masonry walls, houses the public program and the master bedroom. The second floor, a lightweight steel and wood structure, sits atop the first, opening up to the private courtyard. It creates a panoramic yet private window that faces the adjacent square.
Lagos Laval House
Year. 2022
380m2
Collaborator: Sebastián Simonetti
Constructor: Felipe Toro
Location: Huechuraba, Santiago. Chile