Izquierdo Lehmann Arquitectos and Francisco Saul completed a block of five-row houses in Santiago using glue-laminated timber. Each unit is grouped to the other under a large roof, giving the illusion of a single large residence. Dubbed the San Cescente housing, the ensemble is named after its street in the Las Condes neighborhood, located in the Chilean capital city.
The architecture inspiration for the complex came from the architects' desire to develop a housing format different from Chile's typical blocks. Using glue-laminated timber, the long building is built strong and sturdy. The technology used to construct the home glues and compresses smaller wood elements together to create one long piece of material to ensure stability.
Image Credit: Izquierdo Lehmann Arquitectos / Francisco Saul
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Glue-laminated Timber Buildings
- The use of glue-laminated timber is a trend in construction that can create sturdy and sustainable buildings.
- Single-residence Illusion
- Creating the illusion of a single large residence through grouped houses is a trend that can improve the visuals of housing communities.
- Alternative Housing Formats
- Developing alternative housing formats with different materials is a trend that can improve the diversity of housing options available.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Construction
- The construction industry can adopt the trend of using glue-laminated timber to create sturdy and sustainable buildings.
- Real Estate
- The real estate industry can take advantage of the trend of creating the illusion of a single large residence through grouped houses to improve the overall aesthetics of housing communities.
- Design
- The design industry can support the trend of developing alternative housing formats with different materials to create more diverse and exciting housing options.
