Pink Concrete Meets Geometric Poetry: Inside Pezo von Ellrichshausen’s Lima House in Chile
Where quarter‑cylinder rooms and vaulted ceilings create spatial drama around a central pool.
Summary
- Lima House by Pezo von Ellrichshausen uses pink‑pigmented concrete to echo Chile’s coastal soil
- Curved quarter‑cylinder rooms, skylights and a central pool create dynamic, interconnected living spaces
- East‑west orientation, sliding glass doors and timber finishes balance privacy with light
Designed by the Chilean studio Pezo von Ellrichshausen, the Lima House is a monolithic concrete residence located on a steep coastal cliff in Los Vilos, Chile. Built for a retired couple on farmland near Chepica in the O’Higgins Region, the house is constructed entirely from pink‑pigmented concrete, a material choice that echoes the warm tones of the surrounding soil. The dusky rose hue lends the building both a timeless exterior presence and a sense of archaic weight inside, while its sensitivity to changing sunlight adds a dynamic quality to the façade.
The rectangular plan is deceptively simple, with curved walls forming quarter‑cylinder rooms at each corner, introducing spatial complexity and variation. Some rooms face inward toward the pool, while others frame expansive views of vineyards, fields and distant mountains. This spatial arrangement creates a sequence of interconnected living spaces where the distinction between public and private areas is blurred by the rhythmic repetition of the floor plan. Each room features a high, vaulted ceiling and a central skylight, which allows natural light to filter deep into the concrete interior, creating a play of light and shadow that evolves throughout the day.
The architects describe the layout as “a fictional encounter between two alphabetical figures, T and U,” highlighting the interplay between linear and curved geometries. The house is oriented east‑west to follow the sun’s path,and its rhythm of openings alternates between opacity and transparency, balancing privacy with connection to the landscape.
Sliding glass doors enclose private spaces, where recycled timber boards line the walls, echoing the textures used in the concrete casting process. Together, these elements create a residence that merges material honesty, geometric experimentation, and contextual sensitivity, continuing Pezo von Ellrichshausen’s exploration of concrete architecture in Chile.
