A Tapestry of Time: Casa Tam's Enduring Legacy
Reimagining a Legacy: Casa Tam's Evolving Narrative in the Andes
Iván Bravo has masterfully reinterpreted a house nestled at the foot of the Andes, on the periphery of Santiago, Chile. The project, named Casa Tam, represents a thorough overhaul of a residence that had already undergone two previous expansions. Rather than erasing the marks of its history, the renovation integrates existing structural elements with new additions, resulting in a layered domestic environment. This approach allows the home to openly display its evolution, balancing between fresh construction and an architectural palimpsest.
Urban Dialogue and Natural Harmony: The House's Unique Relationship with Its Surroundings
The house presents a distinct face to the city, with a facade that deliberately lifts towards the street, yet it turns its back on the mountains to the rear. The roofline gracefully follows the natural incline of the terrain, descending almost to ground level. This design choice compresses the back elevation into a slender, partially buried strip, forging a direct connection between the house and its garden. This strategic placement firmly anchors the building to its site while subtly redefining its interaction with the surrounding landscape.
Inside Casa Tam: A Functional and Communal Layout
The interior layout, devised by the architect, is thoughtfully divided. A spacious, double-height area, oriented towards the garden, encompasses the living and dining rooms, along with the master bedroom, forming the communal heart of the home. Conversely, the street-facing section houses more practical spaces, such as the kitchen and the owner’s ceramics workshop, creating a compact service zone. Above, two children's bedrooms are linked by a shared central studio, fostering a sense of community through vertical spatial layering.
Structural Innovation: Balancing Past and Future Foundations
On the ground floor, new reinforced concrete components intricately interweave various construction systems that have accumulated over time. These elements serve as a crucial structural bridge between different eras. In contrast, the upper floor is constructed with lightweight materials, a deliberate choice to respect the limitations of the original foundations, which were initially designed for a single-story dwelling. This meticulous equilibrium of weight and lightness allows the house to expand without overburdening its historical framework.
Celebrating Imperfections: Visible Transitions and a Monolithic Exterior
Throughout the interior, material transitions are deliberately left unconcealed. The points where old and new surfaces meet are unified solely by a fresh coat of white paint. Openings carved through the walls reveal their original thickness and texture, narrating the house's past lives. However, the exterior tells a different story: the entire volume is encased in a standing seam metal skin, lending the house a monolithic, almost abstract presence that belies the intricate complexity within.
A New Signature: The Kiln Room as the Latest Chapter
The sole entirely new addition is positioned in front of the main facade: a kiln room dedicated to the ceramics workshop. Clad in wood and painted white, this structure stands slightly apart from the main house. It signifies the most recent phase in the ongoing narrative of Casa Tam, becoming more than just an extension; it is a subtle signature, a functional and artistic expression of the home’s latest transformation.