丨智利丨Gonzalo Rufin Arquitectos

Architects:Gonzalo Rufin Arquitectos

Area:102m²

Year:2025

Manufacturers:Cintac,Maderas ConCon,Vidrieria Acuario

Lead Architects:Gonzalo Rufin Arquitectos

Category:Houses

Lead Team:Gonzalo Rufin

Construction:Constructora Guay Guay

Structural Engineeing:Jorge Argandoña

City:Matanzas

Country:Chile

Text description provided by the architects. Set atop a steep ridge in La Vega de Pupuya, Chile, this house embraces the landscape through a bridge-like form that floats above the terrain. A wooden rib system and exterior walkway connect each space independently, while wooden shutters regulate light and privacy. Built on a steel frame, the structure minimizes its impact and maximizes views. Designed for a simple yet immersive lifestyle, the project celebrates the dialogue between architecture and nature without imposing on the surrounding environment.

The first design decision was to position the house on the highest and most exposed ridge, adopting the form of a bridge that seeks to conquer this “lookout point” in order to embrace the surrounding landscape and connect with nature. Through the repetition of a wooden rib system, the user can traverse the entire length of the house—from the entrance to the common areas—via an elongated exterior walkway that runs alongside the structure. At the same time, this feature grants the freedom to access each room independently.

A system of wooden shutters allows the inhabitants to control both northern light entry and privacy in each space of the home. For its construction, a steel frame was used, resting atop the main wooden ribs that form the bridge, unifying and reinforcing the house’s main façade.

The entrance was designed as a transition area to store sports equipment such as surfboards and wetsuits, enabling a smooth flow along the walkway without interruption. The interior layout includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and an integrated living-dining space, each with its own independent access. As a whole, the house seeks to offer a way of living that is both simple and profound, where architecture does not impose itself on the landscape but instead frames and celebrates it.

Project gallery