ENRIQUE BROWNE & ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTS
PROFILE ARCHITECTURE
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REMODELING OF OFFICES ON CONQUISTADORES STREET Location: Calle Los Conquistadores 2461. Providencia, Santiago de Chile Architect : Enrique Browne Collaborator architects: Mariano Chillier, Felipe Browne, Clara Guzmán, Igor Torres Site Area: 416 m2 Primitive Constructed Area: 139 m2 Addition area: 142 m2 Total Constructed Area: 281 m2 Photography Credits: Guy Wenborne Date: 1995 A simple and modest house was remodeled for offices. Initially a solution was considered in based on a “continuous furniture”, but this alternative was then discarded (see sketches). Ultimately, a reception area was installed, also meeting rooms and a long private office on the first floor. The kitchen and the original bathrooms were conserved. A ramp, next to the original house serves the three studios, located between the house and the lot lines. These studios embrance a semirecessed patio in the interior corner of the sites which provides light and greenery. Such patio is roofed by a metalic trellis, avoiding unpleasant views of the backyards of the neighbours. In its turn, the trellis produces compelling striped shadows varrying according to the time of the day. The inclined axis of the ramp (a diagonal in vertical) has a hand rail that lights up like a ray towards the north, where golden light penetrates. At night such natural golden light ends progressively leaving the blue light installed above the lowered wood ceiling predominant. This colour change produces a dramatic transformation in the overall atmosphere. Apart from connecting spaces, the ramp also serves for project reviews and correcting drawing plans. The ramp axis intercepts with a diagonal in horizontal that visually connects the access with the interior patio, also revealing a double height in the studios. A metal mesh surrounds the building, unifying the house with its additions. They are covered by greenery, resulting in abstract hedges. It also serves to protect the property, improve the acoustical resistance and mimic the whole with the greenery of the neighborhood.