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A case-study family home set on the hills overlooking a lake near the Chile-Argentina border, some 600 kms south of Santiago. Surrounded by the Andes mountain range, it is a holiday villa for a doctor and his family, who wanted to enjoy majestic views across the forest and the waters of the lake.

A large portion of the site was a steep slope inclining 14 meters toward the lake, so once parking for two cars was established, there was limited room for a building. The solution was to dig up the bedrock and sink the living spaces and pool on the lower floor, while allowing the top floor containing bedrooms and home office to glide over the falling landscape. The key to the structure is the creation of balance.

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Case study: House on a cliff by RUBI Architects
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff
House on a cliff

Professionals used in
House on a cliff

About the
Professional

Here at RUBI Architects, we’re a cohesive collective of passionate creatives. Working together with our individual skill sets and personalities – to respectfully listen, learn and to achieve the very best outcome with every project that crosses our desk.

The idea of home is changing faster than ever before.

No longer a sanctuary from the outside world, our homes are a place where all facets of life intersect. Work, study and personal lives occur under the one roof and, more than ever, we’re aware of our responsibility to the planet.

Even so, some things have not changed. The pleasure of self-expression through your home. The satisfaction of building with natural, honest materials. And the joy of feeling connected with your surrounds.

At RUBI, we design residences and multiresidential developments that will stand for generations. That means looking forward to the future, while still honouring the fundamentals that make home an inviting, human space.

We believe in great design ... but we're also realists (and that's a good thing)

That's why we have a hands-on directorial team with equal strengths in architecture and construction management. Their diversity of skills and global experience give you confidence you're receiving top-tier service from an approachable team. Alex and Antonio are with you for the life of your project, openly sharing their design and technical insights.

Great design is buildable design

Here’s the thing; good architecture does not need to be pretentious in complexity or novelty in order to be experiential. We believe good design balances sustainability, craftsmanship and the wellbeing of people. It prioritises locally sourced materials, flows with the rhythm of life and makes a positive contribution to a neighbourhood.