House in La Juanita

Ataraxia, from the Greek for “imperturbable serenity,” is the state sought by Stoic and Epicurean philosophers: being at peace regardless of what happens around you. It is also the name of this house, and that is no coincidence. Completed in December and designed by the Raquet Morales studio, it solves a challenge few coastal properties manage: full sun and ocean views, without asking the owner to choose between one and the other. The road separates it from the sand by just a few steps. The rest is taken care of by the architecture.

Layout over three levels:

Ground floor:

• Access through a corten steel gate.
• Covered garage with laundry area.
• Independent suite with its own entrance, ideal for guests or staff, with complete privacy from the main house.

Main floor:

• Living room, dining room, and kitchen integrated into one space, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the horizon.
• Kitchen with an island, natural veined stone countertops, gas cooktop, and integrated wine cellar.
• Wood-burning fireplace.
• Guest bathroom.
• Direct access to the deck, swimming pool, and barbecue area.

Upper floor:

• Two suites.
• Primary suite with direct ocean views, walk-in closet, and wood-burning fireplace.
• Bathroom with a double carved-stone basin, rain shower, and picture window overlooking the ocean. The beach is in view from both the bed and the water.
• Second suite, also with ocean views and the same quality of materials.

Architecture and finishes:

• Exposed concrete ceilings, continuous flooring, and a corten steel façade that changes with the time of day.
• Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows.
• Designer lighting with natural-fiber shades.
• Two wood-burning fireplaces, one in the living room and the other in the primary suite.
• Underfloor heating throughout the house.

The swimming pool, barbecue area, and deck face north: a shelter protected from sea winds, with sun from morning to afternoon and a tall wooden fence for privacy. Provision for a pool heat pump.

Location:

La Juanita, José Ignacio. Beachfront on Route 10: cross the street and you are on the sand. Minutes from the lighthouse, José Ignacio’s dining scene, and key spots along the east coast.

La Juanita is now one of the last enclaves on the Uruguayan coast where you can still have a beachfront home without a tower next door or a close neighbor. It is the conversation the market is having, and Ataraxia is what that conversation is looking for.