Cazú Zegers
The firm outlines a different take towards chilean architecture, searching for an expressive architecture, closely related to Chile, its territory, landscape and vernacular building traditions. Hence, the work developed by the firm, is a “work in progress” that involves a poetic reflection about the way we inhabit the territory, to find new forms.
The firm’s unique way of undertaking the design process from the relationship between poetry and architecture comes from the *Amereida Thesis. The thesis states that on his way to India Cristopher Columbus found America as a gift, thus inviting us, the habitants of America, to build a new language with shapes that correspond to our “latino” heritage, accepting ourselves as a new culture, and dialogue with global paradigms from this source.
Cazú replies to this invitation with a “light and precarious inhabitance”, meaning low-tech architecture but with high expressive impact; understanding that the greatest asset of Chile and Latin America is in its territory: “before being a country, Chile is landscape” (N. Parra, Chilean poet). Therefore, she thinks that the development of Chile must be based in sustainable tourism, by the hand of the “original indigenous habitants”.
Cazu’s work is built under this premise: “Territory is to America, like monuments are to Europe”. Hence, her architecture is not looking to take the lead, but to be a gentle and loving addition to nature.
*Epic collective poem, published by the School of Architecture UCV 1967.
Cazú Zegers is an architectural practice based in Santiago, Chile.
Pedro de Villagra 2351, Vitacura Santiago, Chile - Phone: +56 22 952 7303 - Email: [email protected] - http://www.cazuzegers.cl/
HOTEL TIERRA PATAGONIA
Lake Sarmiento - Chile
Photo by James Florio Photography