Fray León House by 57studio in Santiago, Chile

Fray León House that located on the east side of Santiago, Chile, is a residence for a family looking for a bigger field and more space, without leaving the traditional neighbourhood where it has lived for almost 30 years. Designed by 57studio, this home design is a family house that brings the fauna inside. The main characteristics of the area are the presence of many huge old trees with houses that have a limited relationship with the street.

Eliminating an old architecture building and respecting the native trees with a major presence and landscaping value on the site, the spaces are organised on an ‘H’ form plant with a second level over the central wing, following the same space relation pattern of the house design that the family left. This ‘H’ form space distribution adapts well to the site form without touching the trees and creating different patios that harness their presence from the interior design.

The home interior design spaces are organised around a native tree (Cryptocaria alba) that accompanies the access from the south. Through the hall, the presence of an enormous avocado tree (Persea americana) is framed towards the north, and a private wing towards the east is delimited by an old macrocarpa cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) and some crape myrtles. Over the central wing, a second private level extends in all of its length, leaving on one end a terrace at the height of the tree’s crowns. On the west wing, the public spaces open towards the northern garden through a porch, and the service areas direct their view towards an ashleaf maple (Acer negundo). The wing of services extends towards the south by means of a roof with an opening that surrounds a native Crinodendron patagua that separates the closed garage from the rest of the home design.

The swimming pool in this home design is located towards the west on the site’s lowest point, where the ground drop helps to conform one of its borders, articulating its presence to the rest of the home garden. The house design is preceded by an extensive paved esplanade that, being requested as an open visitor’s parking area, prolongs the approach of the visitor towards the main access where the Cryptocaria alba gains a major presence.