A young couple commissioned us to design and build their soon-to-be permanent residence. This presented a remarkable opportunity to explore contemporary architecture inspired by ancestral traditions. I committed myself to interpreting their vision and creating what I call a “container of life.”
During my initial site survey, I found an old house where the couple and their two children had lived. This confirmed my idea for a unique residence. Our task was to demolish the original structure while preserving its spirit, replacing it with a true “permanent residence.”
The design metaphor imagines discovering a massive rock left by our ancestors on the site—waiting to be carved into a living space.
This “black carved rock” houses several key features: a four-car underground garage, a service courtyard, a nanny’s room, and a swimming pool. The kitchen, dining room, and living areas are located on the first floor. The carved spaces naturally form built-in furniture with strong textures, harmonizing with both natural and artificial materials. The design keeps this symbolic rock as natural as possible, ultimately integrating it into the owner’s vision of the garden.
Completing the design, a black stone pedestal supports four cantilevered volumes that contain private spaces, fulfilling the owner’s vision of a “floating white stone” residence.
Project Drawings
▲ Underground Floor Plan
▲ First Floor Plan
▲ Second Floor Plan
▲ Elevation View
▲ Section 1
▲ Section 2
▲ Section 3
▲ Section 4
Project Information
Type: Independent Residential Building
Location: Lima, Peru
Architectural Design: Longhi Architects
Area: 550 m²
Year: 2013
Construction: Architect Hector Suasnabar
Project Supervision: Longhi Arquitectos
Photography: Juan Solano
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