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While climate can often be considered as a problematic variable in the design of a house, the salty breeze and oceanic coast of Quintero, Chile are embraced as an asset by Nicolás del Rio and Max Núñez in their design of Casa La Baronia. To protect against the elements, Corten steel – a weathering steel that does not require painting and is resistant to rust – was used for the house’s cladding, and exposed wooden beams become structural support for the house’s interior. The verticality of the frame contrasts the infinite horizon visible from the house’s perch, and the austerity of the house complements the idyllic background of sand and sea. The path leading to the house also capitalizes on the difficult-to-traverse landscape. A winding ramp grants access to the house’s second floor and opens into a balcony of sorts, providing a view of the rolling waves. The beauty of the Pacific Ocean is captured yet again on the first floor; a hallway parallel to the coast is encased in glass so that interior rooms lie on one side and the endless ocean on the other.
