By Architectural Review Desk Published: September 18, 2026
Main Facts: An Elevated Coastal Paradigm
In modern coastal architecture, the perpetual design challenge lies in harmonizing the raw, unpredictable power of the marine environment with the human desire for comfort, safety, and seamless indoor-outdoor living. With the completion of Gandarillas House, Santiago-based practice Jose Pedro Vicente Arquitectos has delivered a striking masterclass in resolving this architectural dichotomy.
Curated for global architecture platforms by Valentina Díaz and captured through the lens of renowned architectural photographer Nicolas Saieh, Gandarillas House is situated in a vulnerable yet breathtaking coastal microclimate. Rather than embedding the primary structure directly into the shifting terrain, the architectural team orchestrated a bold spatial inversion. The entire residential program—consisting of private quarters, communal living areas, and functional zones—is elevated above the earth.
Conversely, the ground level is left entirely porous, open, and unbuilt. This strategic decision turns conventional residential design on its head, freeing the entire ground plane to function as the dynamic heart of the property. Here, lush gardens, expansive sun terraces, a shimmering swimming pool, a custom barbecue zone, an open-air fire pit, an integrated bar, and sheltered gathering nodes transform the entire land plot into an active, breathing landscape for outdoor living.
Chronology: The Evolution of a Coastal Vision
The realization of Gandarillas House represents the culmination of years of contextual research, site analysis, and rigorous spatial iteration by Jose Pedro Vicente Arquitectos. While the definitive completion and international publication of the project were marked in September 2026, the timeline of its development reflects a deeply deliberate design process.
Phase I: Site Acquisition and Environmental Analysis (Early Development Stages)
The architects evaluated the unique topography, soil composition, and prevailing wind and moisture patterns of the coastal site. Understanding the microclimate was vital; the design team needed to account for corrosive sea breezes, intense solar radiation, and potential seasonal weather surges.
Phase II: Conceptual Inversion and Massing Studies
Initial sketches explored traditional coastal footprints, but concerns regarding security, privacy, and climatic protection prompted a radical shift. The team pivoted toward an elevated typology, separating the habitable envelope from the ground plane to preserve the natural topography and enhance panoramic sightlines toward the horizon.
Phase III: Engineering the Elevated Structural Frame
Structural engineers and architects collaborated closely to design a robust support system capable of bearing the elevated residential volume while maintaining clean, minimalist sightlines below. This phase focused heavily on material selection—prioritizing durability against coastal corrosion without sacrificing tactile warmth.
Phase IV: Landscape Integration and Programmatic Zoning
With the main volume suspended, attention turned to the ground-floor landscape. Landscape architects integrated native flora, stone pathways, water features, and recreational zones (including the pool, fire pit, and bar areas) to ensure the open-air floor plan felt intimate, functional, and protected.
Phase V: Interior Fit-Out and Final Curation
The interior spaces were finalized with a focus on framed views, natural light optimization, and organic textures. Nicolas Saieh’s photography subsequently captured the interplay of shadow, timber, and light, introducing the finished project to the global architectural stage in late 2026.
Supporting Data & Architectural Specifications
To fully appreciate the scope of Gandarillas House, one must examine the specific design metrics, material palettes, and programmatic layouts that define the project:
Project Name: Gandarillas House (Casa Gandarillas)
Architectural Practice: Jose Pedro Vicente Arquitectos
Curator: Valentina Díaz
Photography: Nicolas Saieh
Structural Typology: Elevated volumetric massing with an open-air ground level
Primary Program Elements (Elevated Level): Residential living quarters, private bedrooms, kitchen, and formal dining areas.
Primary Program Elements (Ground Level): Swimming pool, integrated landscaping, open-air terraces, barbecue and outdoor cooking station, fire pit, social bar, and protected pedestrian circulation.
Climatic & Environmental Response Strategies:
Elevated massing to mitigate ground moisture and coastal tide risks.
Open ground level to facilitate natural cross-ventilation across the entire site.
Strategic overhangs and shading devices to control interior solar heat gain.
According to the design narrative provided by Jose Pedro Vicente Arquitectos, the core philosophy of Gandarillas House revolves around an uncompromising dialogue with its surrounding geography:
"The proposal seeks to articulate the relationship between the site, the landscape, security, and the coastal climate. The entire program is elevated, while the ground level remains completely open. Rather than being occupied by the building, the ground becomes the primary space for outdoor living. The pool, gardens, terraces, barbecue area, fire pit, bar, and gathering spaces occupy the entire lot, allowing the open space to become the true heart of the living experience."
This official statement underscores a rejection of suburban sprawl or inward-looking residential models. Instead, the architects treat the terrain not as a mere platform to be covered with concrete foundations, but as an active ecological participant. By lifting the heavy residential volume into the air, the practice effectively doubles the usable footprint of the property: the upper level commands views and privacy, while the ground level acts as a shaded, sheltered micro-oasis shielded from harsh winds yet completely exposed to the elements when desired.
Implications: The Future of Coastal Architecture
The completion of Gandarillas House carries profound implications for contemporary residential design, particularly in regions prone to challenging maritime climates and shifting topographies.
1. Re-evaluating Land Occupancy
For decades, luxury coastal architecture often meant sprawling footprints that paved over sensitive ecosystems, disrupted natural drainage channels, and created impermeable barriers against the landscape. Jose Pedro Vicente Arquitectos demonstrates a more sustainable, respectful alternative. By leaving the ground plane open, the building respects the natural hydrology and ecology of the site, allowing rainwater infiltration and minimizing land disruption.
2. Microclimatic Adaptation
As global weather patterns become increasingly erratic, coastal homes face heightened vulnerabilities from storms, shifting sands, and rising dampness. Elevating the primary living quarters provides a built-in defense mechanism against environmental hazards. At the same time, the shaded undercroft functions as a thermal buffer, naturally cooling breezes before they sweep across the outdoor living spaces.
3. Redefining Domestic Luxury
In Gandarillas House, luxury is not measured by interior square footage alone, but by the quality of the transitional spaces. The true "living room" is not enclosed by four walls, but defined by the canopy of the elevated house above, the warmth of the fire pit, the cool water of the pool, and the rustle of coastal vegetation. This spatial inversion offers a compelling blueprint for architects worldwide, proving that sometimes the best way to occupy a landscape is to step back, rise above, and let the earth breathe.
