Architects:
- Architect Julio César Aranda
- Architect Aurelio Vargas
Background:
Among the extensive body of houses designed by Julio César Aranda in the seaside resort of Punta del Este, two distinct periods can be identified. The first, beginning around the mid-1930s and lasting until the mid-1950s, coincides with his partnership with Aurelio Vargas. The second period, when he worked alone, spans from the mid-1950s until his death in 67.
This was a period of chalets with some Spanish influences, but in no way traditional in how they were arranged on their plots; each was individually designed according to topography, views, and orientation. Certain recurring elements can be identified, adapted to each situation to address the specific challenge. The main living level of the house is elevated above the street and reached by a winding, ascending, landscaped path leading to the entrance or front door. A notable undulating treatment of the topography conceals the service areas. The roofs break with symmetry, extending roof slopes or reversing them in a butterfly shape. The exterior façades were defined using a variety of materials according to each house. Most are made of exposed brick painted white, sometimes left natural. Plaster, stone, and wood were also used, as well as combinations of more than one of these materials. The houses from the final period, closer to modern aesthetics, are characterized by flat slabs with a gentle slope, where a deep groove separates the walls and makes the roofs appear to float.
Internal reference: Tera-7947
