London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Welcoming Family Home Imbued With Nature's Charm

Welcoming Family Home Imbued With Nature's Charm

The process of designing and then building a home that establishes a beautiful communication with its surroundings is always a challenge and the solutions found are always customized. Casa Chontay was a complex project from this point of view.

The residence is located in the Antioquia District of Peru. It was a project by Marina Vella Arquitectos, a Peru-based practice founded by the architect, urban planner and professor after who it was named. The team’s projects focus on the architecture, urbanism and design fields. This particular one is interesting for a variety of reasons.


The house sits on a 5,800 square meter plot and offers a total of 135 square meters of living space. The irregularities of the site led the team to organize the project into two structures. The site is situated 70 meters above the river area and this offers it great views of the mountains, the valley and the lush vegetation that surrounds the site.


The two structures are in harmony with the environment almost as if trying to become a part of it. The site is surrounded by rocks, wood, clay and lush vegetation and this inspired the architect to use all the natural resources available there, such as stone, adobe, eucalyptus and cane. In addition, traditional construction techniques were preferred in this case.


The construction was actually divided into two phases. In the first phase, the foundation and a concrete volume were completed after which local materials were used in the second phase. The project was completed in 2014 and uses sustainable materials for the most part in an effort to be as unobtrusive as possible and to blend with the landscape.



The upper area of the site is occupied by a parking area. Access to the two volumes is offered through a pathway. Large stones found on site and ornamental, low-maintenance local plants were used to embellish the immediate surrounding areas, thus becoming a design element.


The constant connection with nature and the outdoors is emphasized through the presence of large windows and the use of natural materials throughout. The floors, doors, windows and shutters are all built of recycled wood. Choosing the exact location for the residence on the site proved to be a challenge which is why the architect opted for two independent volumes and a garden lined up with the valley.



The living area, dining space and the kitchen occupy a 68 square meter area. The fluid lines, natural materials and earthy colors allow this volume to be very inviting. Large windows allow natural light and cross ventilation to create a very pleasant ambiance.


The three bedrooms, the attic space, twp bathrooms and a terrace share a 67 square meter area with views of the valley. Once again, natural materials were used to create a pleasant and welcoming décor.


The spacious outdoor area accommodates a playground, a gazebo, a swimming pool as well as a cozy fireplace area and sheltered dining space. As you can see, all the volumes and spaces are in harmony with each other and together as a whole they harmoniously communicate with their natural surroundings.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
×