For over a decade, we shared an office with my two siblings in what was once our grandmother’s home. Located in a neighborhood that gradually transitioned from residential to fully commercial, the house stood as one of the last remaining dwellings until no residents remained on the block. The modest 90 m² house had become structurally and spatially obsolete, underutilizing the site and deteriorating after nearly 80 years of use. It was therefore demolished to make way for a new ensemble of three independent offices.
A subterranean concrete base spans the full width of the site, anchoring the new structure. Above grade, a steel frame supports three stories organized into square floor plates of approximately 5 meters, with the top floor featuring a double-height volume. The ground floor and upper levels are clad in glass and stained wood, establishing a contrast with the solid front and rear façades, which maintain visual privacy from the street and neighboring properties. In contrast, the longer side elevations feature alternating openings oriented to the north and south, allowing for controlled daylight entry and filtered views.
Each unit is vertically organized over four levels of approximately 100–125 m², with the potential to add a mezzanine within the double-height top floor. By replacing a single dwelling with a compact, monolithic composition of three stacked office units, the project maximizes site constructibility and density without compromising light, privacy, or spatial clarity.
This project reflects a contemporary urban infill strategy, addressing the densification of former residential neighborhoods while maintaining a precise and quiet architectural language of scale, materiality, and sectional variety.
Project Title: Edificio Marchant Pereira
Client: Self-commissioned
Architects: Claudia Tidy, Ian Tidy, Albert Tidy
Collaborators: Sebastián Cruz, Cristóbal Riffo
Location: Marchant Pereira Street, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
Built Area: 420 m²
Materiality: Steel, exposed concrete, and stained wood
Year of Construction: 2015