Primeriza House / Stanaćev Granados

Architects: Stanaćev Granados
Area: 256 m²
Year: 2020
Photography: Marcos Zegers
Furniture and Interior Design: Stanaćev Granados
Lighting: Stanaćev Granados
Landscape: Vanessa Barrois (Landscaperschile) + Joaquín Lobato
Structural Engineering: Alberto Ramírez
Construction: Claudio Lagos, Florent Dromard
City/Location: Chorrillos
Country: Chile

Primeriza House is a coastal residence in Chorrillos, Chile, conceived as a direct response to steep topography, expansive ocean views, and a client brief centered on outdoor living and spatial variety. The house is organized around a strong concrete base embedded in the hillside, supporting lighter timber-and-glass volumes above. A sequence of terraces, patios, and intermediary spaces blurs the distinction between interior and exterior, while careful orientation mitigates prevailing winds. Wood is used throughout the interior, with contrasting finishes that shape atmosphere and reflect changing light conditions. The result is a compact yet layered dwelling that integrates architecture, landscape, and climate into a continuous inhabitable terrain.

Set within a small clearing carved out of a sharply sloped site, Primeriza House approaches architecture as an act of negotiation with the landscape rather than an imposition upon it. The project addresses both the dramatic Pacific Ocean outlook and the dense vertical backdrop of cypress trees, using the terrain itself as a formative design element. This dual condition establishes a tension between openness and enclosure that defines the house’s spatial character.

The building anchors itself through a solid concrete base that contains a semi-buried garage and storage spaces. This base gradually transforms into retaining walls, allowing the natural slope to wrap around the structure and continue uninterrupted. Rather than presenting a singular façade, the house reveals itself through movement along the terrain, with the pedestrian entrance discreetly embedded between the concrete wall and the landscaped hillside.

Arrival unfolds through a sequence of transitional spaces that mediate between inside and outside. An oversized stair landing leads into a windbreak porch and mudroom, conceived as a transparent volume that filters light and views toward an intimate patio. These layered thresholds establish a kaleidoscopic spatial experience in which circulation becomes an essential architectural device.

Above the concrete base, the main living level shifts toward lightness and openness. Constructed in wood and enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glazing, the living and dining areas visually connect to multiple outdoor spaces, including a primary terrace, a sunken landscaped patio, and an entrance courtyard acting as a light well. Solid elements are strategically placed along the perimeter to accommodate storage and service functions without interrupting visual continuity.

The interior atmosphere is defined almost entirely through wood, treated differently on each level. Dark, semi-transparent finishes on the lower floor absorb light and lend a moody, intimate character to the main living spaces, while the upper floor is finished in a semi-gloss white stain that reflects changing sky and weather conditions. A suspended safety net spans the double-height space, replacing conventional railings and encouraging informal family interaction across floors.

Outdoor spaces are conceived as direct extensions of interior life. A large terrace functions as an exterior counterpart to the living areas, spilling naturally into the landscape, while the upper-level playroom opens onto a smaller exterior plane connected to the pool lounge through landscaping. These interwoven interior and exterior paths form a continuous loop of circulation that reinforces the house’s experiential cohesion.

Climatic responsiveness is embedded in the project’s overall form. The orientation of the volume shields the house from strong southern winds, while a sunken terrace, protected by surrounding built elements, offers a sheltered outdoor retreat. As the first independent project by the architects, and one realized largely through remote supervision during construction, Primeriza House stands as a carefully resolved exploration of site, material, and domestic life shaped by both place and circumstance.