Veronica Beach House by Longhi Architects

Built in a mostly rocky terrain in Lima, Peru, the Veronica Beach House by Group Longhi Architects is a bold and graphical statement.

The Peruvian architect Luis Longhi carries an extensive North American background (professional education +13 years of practice in the US) but, since his return to his motherland, in 1994, he and his team are considered to be one of the most representative architecture offices of the country, always perusing to preserve and incorporate a Peruvian identify in their projects.

In this particular construction we can trace a series of parallels between the most known elements of the country’s culture and landscape and those most imposing of the house itself. For example the aesthetics of this house is entirely based on the repetition of geometrical shapes that together generate an extremely impactful composition comparable to the so often seen and well known Peruvian fabrics; or as in the famous Aztec ruins, the perfectly constructed straight lines and circles that generate a beautiful contrast to the rocky environment that, in key points, invades the building.

Looking at the Veronica Beach House from the outside, the heaviest visual impact was reserved for the upper stories, emphasizing the idea of integrating the rocks and making it seem like the house is supported directly on it. Separated from the interior only by sliding glass panels, the asymmetrically shaped pool can be integrated with all the other first floor spaces:  it brings lightness and softness to the overall perception while complementing well the dry environment of it’s surrounding.

In the end, this project could be analyzed from a lot of different points of views generating a series of different interpretations but surely all of them would pass by admitting that this is a beautiful and intriguing piece of architecture that well reflects important parts of its country and culture.   

Karina Araujo

COMPOSITION IS THE KEY