Designed by Chilean architect Cristián Romero Valente, the AV house was born under the idea of respecting the predominant horizontal composition of its levels. In this way, and due to the rugged terrain where it is located, the Pacific Ocean is framed in an interrupted way from all the rooms of the house.

The house is located in the seaside resort town of Maitencillo, in the Valparaíso Region, characterized by its beaches and wooded terrain.
Cristián Romero Valente designed the house with an independent access element. Thus, the access ramp connects the street and parking lot with the main volume of the house. 

Visually linking the interior rooms thanks to a large balcony, the house has a unique luminous atmosphere, which predominates in all interior spaces thanks to the use of skylights and courtyards of light.
 

Description of project by Cristián Romero Valente

The AV house is located in a steep slope. It is an uneven terrain next to a gorge that looks to the south, and it does not face the sea at the east. In order to not miss this view and to protect it from the wind, the house was partially rotated facing east, offering direct visual access to the Pacific Ocean.

The highest point of the house lines up with the street level and the parking space. This way the view to the sea is not blocked. The house respect the horizontality of it’s environment that extends to each of its levels. This allows that the sea is at sight from inside of the house, as well as from the surrounding outdoor spaces. 

The access ramp functions as an independent element that connects the street and the parking space with the house. The need of an access ramp constitutes an architectural opportunity: In order for the ramp inclination to offer suitable mobility and a smooth circulation, it was required to establish a separation between the house and the street. 

The interior access to the house is at a mid-level height; below the street level and above the ground floor. Once inside the house there is an access hall with a balcony that looks towards the double height living room. The balcony also offers an open view to the coast.

The material used for the construction of the house is reinforced concrete with board-formed finish. The purpose of this choice of material is to make the marks visible of the goodgrain when painting it white. This choice of color aims to further the effect of a luminous atmosphere that extends to each enclosure within the house, complemented with a series of skylights and light courtyards.

The roof is a habitable space, wich is accessed from behind the wall of the main facade. It is connected to the rest of the house through a circulation route constituted by the ramp and the hall. This way the circulation is an ascendant path that rounded off with the horizontal line of the roof, which works as a spot to contemplate the sea. 

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Architects
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Collaborators
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Structural Calculation.- Ruiz y Saavedra. Landscape designer.- Luz María Ramírez.
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Area
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284 sqm.
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Dates
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Project.- 2016.
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Materials
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Structure.- Reinforced concrete.
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Location
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Maitencillo, Marbella, Valparaíso Region, Chile.
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Photography
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Cristián Romero Valente, titled with distinction as an architect. Four years of experience working in the office of renowned Chilean architect Gonzalo Mardones Viviani.  

From 2014 to date, Cristián has charted his own path as an independent architect, focusing on the design of homes in various regions of Chile. His architectural approach is characterized by an incessant pursuit of essence, simplicity, and the integration of clean lines. Going beyond mere aesthetics, he places fundamental importance on natural light and the surrounding environment.

Currently, Cristián serves as a title teacher in the architecture program at the Universidad Finis Terrae, sharing his experience and knowledge with future generations of architects.

The international recognition of his work has transcended borders, earning him distinction in the prestigious World Architecture Community Awards in 2018. Furthermore, his talent has garnered attention in prominent architecture publications at both the national and international levels.
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Published on: November 19, 2021
Cite: "Ascending path and pronounced horizontality. AV House by Cristián Romero Valente" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/ascending-path-and-pronounced-horizontality-av-house-cristian-romero-valente> ISSN 1139-6415
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