Cazú Zegers

This is the first book on the world-renowned Chilean architect Cazú Zegers, who practices an intensely ecological form of architecture based on an observation of the territory and landscape in which she builds. Working frequently in timber, Zegers has developed a philosophy about how to inhabit territories. Starting with what she calls poetic proposals, Zegers reaches unique, sustainable, and recyclable solutions that combine the traditional work of Chilean carpenters with modern techniques. In an almost metaphysical journey, where organic forms, curves, diagonals, and verticals are combined, Zegers affirms her rising presence as a force in ecologically minded architecture. The book is filled with private residences, hotels, and sacred spaces that evoke the geographical magnitude of the Andean landscape. Projects include the Soplo ("Breath") House, built in an urban setting, with living that occurs in a continuous flow, between interior and exterior, horizontally and vertically. The Tierra Patagonia Hotel, which she associates with the poetic word Viento, (Wind), emerges beside craggy mountains and the glistening Lake Sarmiento at the entrance of the Torres del Paine National Park, with stunning views of the Patagonia wilderness in a luxury setting. The large format book includes sketches for each project and is printed with a fifth color throughout.