Casa la Chinita: A Circular Vision in Chile’s Desert Oasis
Discover Casa la Chinita in Chile’s IV Region, a retreat designed in 2021 by DX Arquitectos. This vacation house beautifully blurs the lines between inside and out, inspired by unity and the surrounding wild Pacific. Its central terrace and cleverly hidden intimate spaces create a unique experience, harmonizing with the natural elements of the Atacama Desert gateway.
About Casa la Chinita
A Desert Oasis: Casa la Chinita
Casa la Chinita stands in the heart of Chile’s IV Region, right at the Atacama Desert’s doorstep. Designed to unite an extended family, this dwelling effortlessly brings together multiple generations. Shielded from the relentless northern sun and wind, it serves as a sanctuary for guests and family members alike.
Innovative Design and Intimacy
The house’s exterior, surrounded by a tall fence, leads first to a roofed terrace – the undisputed heart of the home. Here, everything converges. Then, the design transitions to the interior, featuring intimate spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms. These areas cleverly conceal behind closed doors, creating a visual illusion. This layout ensures constant views of the wild Pacific’s crashing waves, enhancing the home’s connection to nature.
Moreover, the architectural approach gradually blurs the lines between open and enclosed spaces. At the same time, it preserves the property’s expansive central courtyard. This courtyard is the essence of the home, tying together circulation, views, and access to various spaces.
The Birth of “La Chinita”
Casa la Chinita’s unique shape originated from a spontaneous gesture by our friend Francisca. During one of our initial design meetings, she expressed a desire for a unifying home, symbolized by a circular hand motion. This graceful, subtle movement inspired the project’s centrifugal/centripetal force, becoming its founding spirit.
As the design team unraveled the geometry of the foundational circle and its secants, the house naturally evolved. Striving to accommodate a necessarily orthogonal layout, the architects christened the house “La Chinita,” a name that resonates with its distinctive design and purpose.
Photography by Pablo Blanco Barros
Visit DX Arquitectos
- by Matt Watts
