A striking coastal residence in La Ligua, Chile, demonstrates innovative architectural design through its unique four-block layout arranged parallel to the Pacific Ocean. House JM, completed in 2025 by LOTE STUDIO in collaboration with Ignacio Ferreira, spans 600 square meters and showcases a thoughtful response to its north-south oriented beachfront location.
The residence's most distinctive feature is its programmatic distribution across four separate blocks, each serving specific functions while maintaining visual and physical connections. These blocks are linked by a circulation strip that incorporates a solid adobe wall, creating a strategic barrier that provides complete privacy along the property's southern orientation. This circulation system transforms into transparent connections between blocks, allowing unobstructed north-south visual contact while emphasizing the independent character of each programmatic unit.
The architectural team, led by Juan Pablo Gutiérrez and Jose Ignacio Ferreira, designed the house to maximize its privileged Pacific Ocean views through complete northern openings. This design choice creates a dramatic contrast with the protective southern barrier, establishing a clear hierarchy between privacy and openness. The residence utilizes materials from manufacturers including Bastro, Cordillera Sur, MK, Milesi, and Topwood, contributing to its refined coastal aesthetic.
Entry to the residence occurs through a carefully designed contained courtyard that marks the transition between exterior and interior spaces. From this entry point, visitors access a main hall that leads to the social area housed in the first block, which integrates living room, dining room, and kitchen spaces. The circulation strip then guides movement to the private areas, comprising two girls' bedrooms and the main ensuite bedroom, each occupying separate blocks to ensure privacy and independence.
The design incorporates extensive outdoor living elements, including a semi-open barbecue area, spacious galleries, and intermediate patios that reinforce the connection between interior and exterior spaces. These features promote an outdoor lifestyle that responds directly to the natural coastal surroundings, allowing residents to fully engage with their oceanfront environment throughout different seasons and weather conditions.
At the eastern end of the property, separated from the main house by a landscaped pathway, stands an independent guest block with no direct internal connection to the primary residence. This autonomous volume contains two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small enclosed storage area, allowing visitors complete independence without interfering with the daily operations of the main house. The guest block's separate access system ensures privacy for both residents and visitors while maintaining the overall architectural coherence of the project.
Construction was completed by G1, with interior decoration handled by Teresita Gutiérrez and Jacinta Ossa, contributing to the residence's refined coastal character. The project represents a successful integration of contemporary architectural principles with the specific demands of coastal living, creating spaces that are both protective and open to their dramatic natural setting along Chile's Pacific coastline.
