One of the many things that all men dream about is to live in a nice house. My definition of "nice" must include comfort, coziness, and uniqueness. However, most of the modern architectural designs emphasize much more on visual pleasure (that is, the uniqueness), such as spatial effect and overlook the comfort and coziness factor. A home doesn't feel like a home anymore, nor does anyone ever talk about warmness and personal attachment. Despite all these, there are still some architects in a few corners of this world remain religious to the the concept of "home should be built for our souls not just eyes."
In San Jose de Maipo, I found one that I felt connected.
This is the house built by Mr. Sergio Andrade Huber Astorga and Mrs. Liliana Astorga Moreno - Lorenzo's parents.
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The side door of Lorenzo's house - the entrance to the wonderland
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Lorenzo's father is a talented architect and he owns a construction company and workshop in San Jose de Maipo, aside from his Cascada de las Animas tourism business. Across from the Maipo River, many of the Astorga family members live in the mountains. Among the houses they live, Lorenzo's house was the most unique of them all.
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| Plants on the porch |
Transporting construction materials , such as concrete, rocks, timbers, etc, by vehicles has been the the predominant mode for several decades. Using horses, donkeys or mules, even 30 or 40 years ago was quite inconceivable judging by the old day's standard. However, it was not the case for the Astorga's.
After walking across the bridge over the Maipo River, there was no more road access to the house construction site (even today). To minimize environmental impact, they used horses and mules to transport the materials they needed. The road is uphill all the way for about 15 minutes. On a sunny day, the dirt road isn't too bad for maneuvering. However, on a rainy day, dirt turns into MUD and it sucks...
Before I continue with the story, there are a few kitchen shots that I would like to share with you,
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| Kitchen 1 - beautiful geometrical multi-color glass panel ceiling window |
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Kitchen 2 - Overall view: the Spanish yellow brings vividness into the kitchen and brighten
up the entire cooking & eating atmosphere |
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| Kitchen 3 - The exposed timber structure gives the house a very modern yet vintage style. |
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| Kitchen 4 - Vegetable grown by the family |
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| Kitchen 5 - Red hot chili peppers |
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Kitchen 6 - Multipurpose vintage stove. They use it extensively for cooking, making tea and
warming the house. It is so awesome and it made me want to own one in my house! |
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| Kitchen 7 - glass ware cabinets. so sweet.... |
Each chair, table, shelf or any piece of furniture has its own story. It might represent a kind of animal or embody some object or concept in nature, such as the flow of air, water, etc. They were all designed and hand-crafted by Mr. Astorga and his crew. Many of them are amazing pieces of artwork (too bad I didn't take any close-up photos of them)
Moreover, each piece of wood, brick and rock were carefuly transported and laid on its proper place by the young and the strong of the Astorgas. 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year and a total of 8 years, they finally finished this master piece of art! They are proud of this home built by hands, sweat and blood, a story worth telling and sharing around the fire pit.
Impressed yet? just wait...
Now, let looking at the living room...
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Living room 1 - the stairs leading to the 2nd floor on the left. The right hand side is the living room.
Right in the middle is a HUGE rock they built around. It is supppppper cool!
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The Astorgas encountered a huge problem when they were building the house - the HUGE Rock - in the middle of the construction site. So, what did they do? Remove it? No...
They built around it and included it as part of the house and part of the family. They are really proud of it. I had a feeling when I was talking to them that the rock seemed to be the core spirit of the house. It's there, rooted, rock-solid, just like the Astorgas.
There is a saying in the Astorga house, "The hardest part of building this house was to move this rock in the middle of it."
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Living room 2 - The sun roof & the cool timber geometry
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Living room 3 - A basket of yarn
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Living room 4 - sweet rock decoration
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Living room 5 - pretty lanterns
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Living room 6 - a picture made of yarn telling a horse rider's story
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Living room 7 - The scenery out side of their window.
The bottom-right corner is Lorenzo's aunt's house. Jealous of the view?? Indeed..
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Living room 8 - a gigantic hand-made tapestry, telling the story of family's history with the house.
It also serves as honoring the spirit of the rock. |
Now, let's check out the 2nd floor...
Following the swirling steps built to the curve of the rock to upstairs, you will find there existing another world...a world of anti-geometric space.
It's really like a magical wonderland here - every corner, window, shelf, room - I found something interesting and surprising every time and everywhere. Have you ever had that feeling when you were a new born? Find everything just so fresh and new? The builders seem to be highly curious, creative and open-minded. No rules applied, but lots of mind and thoughts.
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| Second floor 1 - the stairs built around the rock leading to the 2nd floor |
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| Second floor 2 - A cool closet door around the stairs |
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| Second floor 3 - a cow leather skin on the floor, many house riding equipment on the right wall |
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| Second floor 4 - random |
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| Second floor 5 - horse gear |
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| Second floor 6 - cool roof window and heat pipe going all around the house |
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| Second floor 7 - to the third floor. Not sure what's up there...but nice window |
A normal house avoids sun and rain, but a magical house embraces them.
This is the Astorga's house.
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