Santiago, Chile, has a particular neighborhood in which old trees grow. One of the projects of 57Studio was completed here, and called the Fray León house.
The architects suggested to the client a modern white house developed around a native Peumo tree. An Avocado tree is present along the hall of the house, but there is also a Cypress tree in the picture. In the north of the house there is a specially designed terrace that opens to the garden.
Light colors were chosen for the outside of the house to emphasize the colorful green garden of trees. Inside, most of the furniture and ceilings are made of wood, but this is only to beautifully accentuate the view to the spectacular garden that can be seen through the large glass windows.
I love how the design embraces nature rather than competing with it. How did the architects ensure the trees’ health during construction? Are there any unique challenges in building so closely around mature trees?
Thank you! The architects worked closely with arborists to protect root systems and used careful planning to minimize soil compaction. Challenges included designing foundations and structures that avoid damaging the trees, ensuring both the building’s stability and the trees’ long-term health.