Las Gaviotas House — An Adaptable Wooden Home by Demo Arquitectos

The idea of a home that can grow and adapt as a family’s needs change is an appealing one, yet it can be difficult to realize. Demo Arquitectos designed the Las Gaviotas House in an urban neighborhood in Chile to answer that challenge: an affordable, flexible residence built around a custom wooden framework that allows future expansion without changing the core house. Positioned on an elevated platform with distant sea views, the house is oriented to shelter its living spaces from prevailing southern winds while taking advantage of natural light and the setting.

Open plan kitchen with tiled backsplash and central island — Open-plan kitchen with a bright tiled backsplash and a generous central island

At the heart of the ground floor is a large social kitchen arranged as an open-plan living area. The kitchen island serves as the social hub, inviting family and guests to gather. The interior palette is intentionally restrained: wood dominates the surfaces and structure, while appliances and a colorful backsplash introduce measured accents. The result is a warm, cohesive interior that balances natural materials with functional, everyday elements.

Elegant modern interior with a slim wooden staircase — Elegant interior with a slim wooden staircase leading to the upper level

A slim wooden staircase links the main level to the upper floor, where the bedrooms and private spaces are located. Large expanses of glazing blur the boundary between indoors and out, bringing daylight deep into the plan and connecting interior rooms with outdoor decks and the landscape beyond. These glazed walls help the house feel larger and more integrated with its setting while providing framed views toward the sea.

Spacious modern eclectic kitchen — A spacious, modern kitchen functions as the communal heart of the home

Outdoor living is an important part of the design. Deck space surrounds portions of the house, creating sheltered terraces that extend the living areas and give homeowners flexible options for dining, relaxing, or entertaining outdoors. These outdoor platforms also preserve a compact footprint for the main structure while providing usable private exterior spaces.

Deck space around the house used as an outdoor retreat — Deck areas around the house provide flexible outdoor retreats

The most distinctive technical feature is the extended wooden framework that envelops the house. This custom structure was conceived to simplify construction, reduce waste, and make future additions straightforward. By designing around a structural grid and common commercial timber dimensions, the team minimized complex cuts and material loss. The framework projects beyond the current rooms, providing clear points where additional modules or enclosed space can be attached when needed. This approach supports phased growth while keeping initial costs controlled.

Custom extended wooden framework around the house — A custom extended wooden framework around the house allows for future expansion

To shorten construction time, the project was designed around a structural grid that considered commercially available dimensions—3.2 m wood beams and structural boards—to contain components and achieve robust structural behavior while avoiding excessive cutting and material waste. The house is based on an interior plan of 4.88 meters by 12 meters in length.

Glass walls that bring the outdoors inside — Expansive glass walls that bring the outdoors inside and allow natural light to penetrate the living spaces

Material choices emphasize simplicity and durability. The dominant use of timber gives the interiors a consistent, tactile quality while also enabling relatively rapid construction. Selective application of colored tiles—such as green tiles used in the bathroom—introduces visual interest and practical finishes suited to wet areas without disrupting the overall warmth of the wood-dominant scheme.

Green bathroom tiles adding color to the modern space — Colored tiles in the bathroom add a lively accent to the modern interior

Las Gaviotas House demonstrates how careful planning, a clear structural strategy, and modest, well-chosen materials can deliver a flexible, comforting home on a budget. The design balances communal and private areas, prioritizes natural light and outdoor connections, and leaves room for the house to evolve over time—an architectural solution that supports changing needs without unnecessary complexity.

Modern Las Gaviotas House exterior — Modern Las Gaviotas House by Demo Arquitectos

Natural light filtering into the upper level — Natural light filters into the upper level, enhancing the sense of warmth and openness

Design plan of the Las Gaviotas House — Design plan showing the compact, efficient layout of the Las Gaviotas House

Photography: José Antonio Miranda. Design: Demo Arquitectos.