Keller

Architect

Nicolás Matzner Weisner

Associate Architect

Cristián Meneses Gómez

Project Development

February 2011 - Present

Projected Area

174 m2

Location

Keller 1248 – Providencia
Santiago, Chile.

In 1925 the "Keller Community” was constructed: a set of thirty houses arranged along two blocks. The architect Luciano Kulczewski designed two versions; a one and a two- storey structure, characterized by a mixture of styles closely resembling Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

The "Council of National Monuments" has declared this area a "Typical Zone" for its architectural wealth, ensuring its preservation.

Interventions are mainly permitted in areas not visible from the road.

The targeted house is a variation of the one- floor type and in the past eight decades has been remodeled, but with its original elements being preserved.

The challenge: merge the existing three bedrooms and one bathroom into a suite room plus a bedroom for each of the four sons in the family. Inevitably, this necessitated the construction of a second floor.

On the first level, in order to preserve the original walls, very few pillars were designed, which support a slab decking. On this floor the main suite and service spaces are located, all with direct access to the courtyard through a new rear façade.

The second level can be accessed through a stairway that crosses a double high space and unites the entire house. It ascends to a lounge with direct entry to the bathroom and four bedrooms belonging to the children.

Light partition walls are built on the slab and redefine a gran portion of the roof.