La Maison Errazuriz is a vacation home comissioned by Eugenia Errazuriz, a Chilean diplomat. It was supposed to be built in Zapallar, a remote spot in front of the Pacific Ocean. It was never built.

In this house, Le Corbusier respects the Principle of free plan and façade: the ceilings are supported by poles, and the façade is entirely made of glass to let light in.

The remoteness of the place, and the uneven terrain was a challenge for Le Corbusier: he had to anchor this house in the landscape.

He therefore chose simple materials for the interior: stone blocks from the surroundings for the walls, and chilean tree trunks for the poles. Therefore, this interior is not luxurious, and is considerate of the region surrounding it.

The particularity of this house is its V-shaped roof, latter on called butterfly-roof. This type of roof is quite practical in sunny landscapes, because it lets more sunlight in. It also allows the house to have a gully in the center, and reminds the mountains behind the house.

Thanks to this roof, Le Corbusier designed a large living room on the ground floor, and a mezzanine accessible with a wooden ramp. The space is opened and bathed with light.

Bibliography:

Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscape, by Jean-Louis Cohen, MoMa, 2013

Plans: Aldo Ripamonti

Authors: Martyna Czub, Aycan Kizilkaya, Mordjann Souilamas