Architecture Wednesday: House in Azpitia

This house, located in the Azpitia Valley, south of Lima and close to the sea, sits in an area known for its local vineyards and pre-Columbian ruins. It’s a natural oasis for people escaping from the big metropolis of Lima.

The landscape is a mix of dry desert and green grasses alongside the Mala River that flows into the Pacific and the house sits on a slope, at the foot of the mountain with a view toward the Mala and facing the vineyards. The house was designed to integrate with the dry landscape using a palette of textures and colors common to the area.

The architects used local craftsmen to create this new home atop an area rich with ruins; the home is constructed of bricks, made of clay and sand, and fired in local handcrafted brick ovens. The foundation of the house is composed of from local stone covered with drought tolerant plantings; above the stone layer are the terraces—extensions of the kitchen, dining room and living room—beneath a wood roof, a textile grid, that offers protection from the sun. The roof-lines create a sense of shadow, semi-shade and open areas to project the interiors toward the outdoor spaces.

The first floor, all social areas, is one open space surrounded by gardens and views, while the private areas, bedrooms and baths, are on the second level capturing some gorgeous vistas.

It seems the best of both worlds; hot and arid, and cool and green—and green environmentally, too—with views for miles.

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Architecture Wednesday: Casa Chontay

This home is on a large rural plot south-east of Lima, if you follow the 25 mile driveway from the road that borders the Lurin River; the road that leads to the house is surrounded by a beautiful landscape where stone, wood, clay and local flora stand out.

The house sits about 229 feet above the river so the views are spectacular, and with the ample amounts of stone, clay and wood found onsite, there was no need for additional building materials to be trucked in.

Still, choosing an exact location on which to build the home was challenging and lead to a solution of two independent volumes articulated by a garden lined up with the existing trees and the valley which allows the homeowners to have constant connection with nature and outdoor activities.

Access to the house is via a pedestrian pathway through a field and one enters the living, dining and kitchen spaces. The lower volume has an open hall to the three bedrooms, an attic, 2 bathrooms and the terrace.

It’s not a large house, but it maximizes the views, and the terrain, and the environment, making it a perfect home to sip wine and watch the sunset, to create your own fruit and vegetable gardens, and the enjoy the lush surroundings.

It’s a drive to get to the house, but it seems to be worth it.

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