KW House by Eugenio Simonetti: Immersive Forest Living in Southern Chile

KW House, designed by Eugenio Simonetti, sits at the heart of a protected native forest in southern Chile, surrounded by Coihue, Ulmo, and Arrayanes trees. Overlooking the El Cerduo mountain range, a historic wild boar pass between Chile and Argentina, and nestled at the foot of the Villarrica volcano, the residence is an architectural dialogue between human habitation and natural preservation.

The design strategy focuses on creating a home that feels both immersed in and protected by the forest, achieving harmonious integration with the environment while offering year-round comfort.

Transparent Living: First Floor Design

The first floor is conceived as a “glass aquarium,” featuring an open-plan living space where the living room, dining room, and kitchen occupy a central axis defined by three sculptural staircases that serve both structural and circulatory functions. This design ensures that no matter where you are, the surrounding forest feels like an extension of the home.

High-performance materials, including polyurethane insulation and Low-e thermopanel aluminum windows with thermal breaks (U-value of 1.7 W/m²K), maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year, making the home suitable for both winter retreats and summer escapes.

Indoor-Outdoor Connection

The first floor is designed to respond to seasonal variations:

• Summer: Folding windows on both sides of the dining room open completely, transforming the space into a barbecue area that connects seamlessly to terraces via wooden bridges. Natural cross-ventilation ensures a fresh interior while offering uninterrupted views of the forest and El Cerduo mountains.
• Winter: The house closes hermetically, maintaining warmth through a fireplace in the living room, a wood stove, and a perimeter circulation that links recreational zones, creating cozy, protected interiors.

Private and Flexible Second Floor

The second floor is designed as a series of bedroom apartments, each with a private bathroom and staircase. This layout allows spaces to be connected or separated depending on whether the occupants are family members or guests, providing flexible privacy solutions.

Bedrooms prioritize rest and relaxation, with minimal furniture, abundant Lenga wood paneling, and subtle natural light from skylights. The orientation maximizes views of the forest and western mountains, while creating a warm, secluded atmosphere.

Durable and Low-Maintenance Materials

Given the region’s extreme climate, with heavy winter rains and cold temperatures, the second floor features metal cladding on the roof and walls, reducing long-term maintenance. The second-floor eaves extend beyond the first floor, sheltering windows and creating a perimeter terrace that covers a small herbaceous garden, blending practicality with aesthetic appeal.

KW House: A Forest Retreat That Balances Comfort and Nature

KW House exemplifies how modern residential architecture can coexist with nature without compromising comfort. Its strategic use of materials, indoor-outdoor integration, and thoughtful seasonal adaptability make it a model for sustainable forest living in Chile and beyond.

All photographs are works of Pablo Casals Aguirre