The three levels of this house by Santiago firm Hsü Rudolphy step down a sloped site to Rapel Lake, creating multiple terraces and access to the water.

Located roughly two hours South of Santiago, the 244-square-metre Slope House overlooks Chile's Rapel Lake, an artificial reservoir that feeds into a dam further down the Rapel River.
Hsü Rudolphy, a studio led by Ian Hsü and Gabriel Rudolphy, designed the property to step down a slope to the water's edge. The upper volume, however, cantilevers over the lower structure, to form a large window topped by a terrace that both offer views of the surroundings.

To avoid unnecessary excavation, each level is slightly shorter than the one above it, following the outline of the site's slope. Integrating the home into its natural setting was a key part of the design, and a priority for the clients. "The client is a family that loves nature and architecture, who pointed out the aspects they considered relevant and that we interpreted in a conceptual architectural proposal," Rudolphy told Dezeen.

"The confidence they put in us was fundamental to achieve the final objective, combining the needs of the client in a complex terrain, with a simple architectural expression, well defined and respectful of the environment that they liked very much."
Horizontal wooden cladding the home is covered in a protective treatment that darkens the tone, complementing the blackened steel structure of the windows and other accents....