Architecture Wednesday: Casa Las Peñas

The architects created a home that includes the outside surroundings into the building and decided to set the house so that it takes advantage of the views of the Chiche River canyon in El Chaquiñán, Ecuador.

From the entrance you feel surrounded by nature, and yet the property shares land space with a neighboring home; the house is located on a hill with a 30% slope but has been adapted in levels that follow the terrain, while maintain privacy from the street side.

This decision allowed for afternoon sun protection on the West facade as well as letting the morning sun inside the home. The bedrooms are on the lower level, with the public spaces above cantilever over the canyon, and the roof was designed to mimic the surrounding mountains.

The construction of the home is also interesting; it’s a system of light-weight building materials that are sandwiched between a metal structure outside and wood panels inside, making the construction easier for running plumbing and electrical. That sandwich also creates an air layer that allows fresh air when it is hot outside and saving heat while the weather gets colder, maintaining the house always at a moderate temperature. In addition, the house uses 100% renewable energy through solar panels and water is recycled via a grey water treatment system used for irrigating and water closets.

But, while all that’s nice, this one is all about the views.

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