Casa Florinda: Preserving Ruins in a New Chilean Home

Casa Florinda, a residential project by Alvariño & Felipe Arquitectos, is set for completion in 2026. The house, covering 123 square meters, is located in Chile and was designed by architects Nora Alvariño and Ernesto Felipe. The project was curated by Valentina Díaz, with photography by Nicolas Provoste. The design process began with a dilemma: what to do with an old earthen house in ruins on the plot acquired for their own residence. Initially planning to demolish it, the architects were compelled by its sense of belonging to the site. They decided to preserve it, intertwining their personal life and architectural practice. The ancient structure now serves as both their home and a testing ground for their architectural convictions. The project has been featured on ArchDaily, a prominent architecture publication.