Prat-Valdés House / Raimundo Gutiérrez Frías

Architects: Raimundo Gutiérrez Frías
Area: 128 m²
Year: 2021
Photography: Nico Saieh
Manufacturers: Byp Iluminación, Dap Ducasse, Kitchen Center, RCV Maderas
Structural Engineering: Joaquín Valenzuela
Plumbing Installation: Catherin Núñez
Landscape Design: Maureen Grove
City: Matanzas
Country: Chile

Prat-Valdés House, designed by Raimundo Gutiérrez Frías in Matanzas, Chile, is a coastal residence elevated on wooden pillars to optimize ocean views from its second-line location. Positioned four meters from the western boundary, the design preserves open exterior circulation and integrates common areas with a recreational patio. The elevated structure also allows for a functional space below, accommodating storage and laundry facilities, with provisions for future expansions. A sealed southern façade shields against wind and enhances privacy, while extensive glazing on the northern and eastern façades maximizes natural light and frames views of the sea and a eucalyptus forest. The layout is organized around a central entry hall, separating the communal spaces to the north from private areas to the south. Constructed with a metal frame and modular pine components, the house incorporates industrially standardized materials, featuring light interior finishes and black-painted exteriors.

The inspiration for Prat-Valdés House came from something very practical; how to manage to see the sea from at least the common area of the house, taking into account that this was achieved at 3 meters height from the natural ground level.
Interview with Raimundo Gutiérrez Frías of ERRE Arquitectos

Prat-valdés house / raimundo gutiérrez frías

The project site, theoretically located in a second-line position relative to the ocean, led the client to request specific visual connections toward the coastline. To meet this requirement, the design elevated the entire house above the natural terrain using a system of wooden pillars and diagonal supports, ensuring the necessary height for optimal views.

Maintaining open accessibility to exterior spaces was another priority. The house was positioned parallel to and four meters from the western boundary, allowing for uninterrupted circulation around the structure. This placement not only established a direct visual axis from the common areas to the sea but also facilitated seamless integration with the primary recreational patio, located on the flattest part of the site.

The elevated design also created a functional space beneath the house, extending below both the common areas and a portion of the private quarters. This space was designed to include a storage and laundry module, with provisions for an outdoor kitchen and an additional bathroom in a planned second phase.

Another key design strategy focused on shielding the house from strong western winds and maintaining privacy from neighboring properties. A fully sealed southern façade achieves this, incorporating only a corridor leading to the main entrance. In contrast, the northern and eastern façades remain entirely transparent, featuring full-height glazing. These orientations were chosen to optimize natural light while framing views of the ocean to the north and a eucalyptus forest to the east. The spatial layout centers around the entry hall, which acts as a transition point between zones. The common areas—including the kitchen, dining room, living room, and terrace—are oriented northward, while the private spaces, consisting of two bedrooms and a bathroom, are located to the south.

Structurally, the house employs a primary metal frame to enable large spans without additional supports, complemented by an internal pine framework. The design follows a modular system based on 3.20-meter units, optimizing the use of industrially available timber in standard dimensions. Most of the interior and exterior cladding consists of pine, creating a distinct contrast in finishes. Light stains were applied to interior surfaces and the terrace, while the exterior was treated with dark-hued paints derived from black tones.