Morla House by Stanaćev Granados – Coastal Retreat in Matanzas, Chile

Located in the scenic coastal town of Matanzas, Chile, the Morla House by Stanaćev Granados is a contemporary rental residence designed with a strong focus on sustainable architecture, flexible spaces, and ocean-view living. Completed in 2022, the 120 m² house showcases a minimal yet expressive architectural language that harmonizes with the rugged coastal landscape while optimizing construction efficiency.

Design Concept and Spatial Layout

As a rental home, the design required space optimization, budget-friendly construction, and the ability to be built by local, non-specialized labor. The layout includes an open-plan living area, dining space, kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a pantry, cellar, and a generous ocean-facing terrace. The goal was to create a compact yet highly functional single-family house that offers both privacy and connectivity with the surrounding natural environment.

Architectural Approach

The design draws inspiration from the site’s unique conditions — panoramic Pacific Ocean views, strong southern winds, and varying sunlight exposures. The north-facing façade opens up to maximize sea views, while the southwest façade remains closed and sculptural, offering a balance between privacy and exposure. The house’s demediated volume is a bold architectural gesture, with contrasting faces: one side is abstract and minimal, while the other is dynamic and open.

Materiality and Aesthetic

A single material — black-stained pine wood — defines both the exterior and interior, creating a cohesive and monolithic character. The laminated wood structure remains visible, celebrating craftsmanship and natural texture. Inside, the dark wood surfaces create a play of light and shadow, enhancing the fluid spatial experience and the intimate ambiance.

Interior Design and Fluidity

The interior is conceived as a "liquid space," with black wood cladding extending across walls and ceilings to soften transitions between spaces. Skylights, sliding doors, and open staircases enhance natural lighting while creating dynamic layers of reflections and shadow play. The interiors strike a delicate balance between bright living spaces and shadowed transitional zones, functioning like diaphragms to regulate light intensity.

Promenade and Outdoor Connection

The house embraces a continuous circulation flow reminiscent of boarding a boat, with a raised walkway entrance leading to panoramic ocean views. A large terrace extends the living and bedroom spaces outward, inviting seamless indoor-outdoor living and capturing the essence of coastal relaxation.

All Photographs are works of Pablo Casals Aguirre, Manu Granados