Casa Viva The house that breathes
FR ES EN
Tell us your dream

The concept

An architecture
that embraces the living

Casa Viva designs homes for the new human being: organisms of earth, timber and light that make their own energy and age with the landscape.

Dome house set in the valley, open to the river and the forest

Manifesto

The new human being no longer dwells against nature

For a century, the house was a machine for cutting us off from the world: straight walls, air conditioning, blind rooms. The new human being wants to feel the morning come in, hear the rain, watch the seasons change the light.

We start from the body and the place. A Casa Viva home is drawn from the prevailing winds, the sun's path, the slope of the land and the gestures of those who live there. Technique comes afterwards, discreet, in the service of that relationship.

We do not place a house on a site. We look for the form the site was waiting for.
The house as an extension of the ground

Five principles

What guides every line

Neither style nor recipe: five attentions that return in every project, from the first sketch to the last plaster coat.

  1. Biophilia

    The living world is not decoration: plants, water, timber and natural views run through every room.

  2. Curve

    Lines follow forces and flows; no orthogonality is imposed on principle.

  3. Local matter

    Earth from the site, stone from the valley, timber from nearby forests: less transport, more repair.

  4. Light

    Every space receives the light it needs, when it needs it, without glare or overheating.

  5. Adaptability

    Rooms change use over the years; the structure remains, partitions fade away.

Materials

Six materials, taken from nearby

We favour what the territory offers, what a local craftsperson can repair and return to the soil without pollution.

  • Raw earth

    Breathing walls, gentle thermal mass, cement-free construction.

  • Local timber

    Ribbed frames, warm floors, short supply chains.

  • Stone

    Foundations, cool walls, reuse of stone from the site.

  • Lime

    Flexible, permeable plasters, hand-finished surfaces.

  • Bamboo

    Light structures and woven partitions, a fast-growing resource.

  • Glass

    Calibrated openings, controlled solar gain, framed views.

The process

Five stages, from listening to living

A Casa Viva project is not delivered and forgotten: it learns from those who live in it.

  1. Listening

    Land, wishes, budget, constraints: one or two meetings to understand before drawing.

  2. Organic sketch

    Plans, sections and models: we look for the right form, not the spectacular one.

  3. Technical study

    Structure, energy, water, costs. Choices become costed and buildable.

  4. Building site

    We follow the craftspeople and the sensitive details, from structure to plaster.

  5. Life in the house

    A year later, we return: adjustments, extension, small corrections.

Frequently asked

Before we begin

How long does a study take?

Allow 6 to 10 weeks for the sketch and technical study, depending on the site's complexity and permits.

Do I need a building permit?

In Peru, the procedure depends on the municipality and the zone. We prepare the technical documents and support you through the exchanges.

What budget should I plan for?

We work in tiers: a minimum envelope, a comfortable one, and a complete one with home automation. The budget is discussed from the sketch stage.

Does the house withstand the Andean climate?

Yes: thermal mass, protective roofs, cross ventilation and passive solar heating are designed from the first sketch.

Casa Viva

Do you carry a place, a material, a light within you?

Tell us what you are looking for. We reply with a first reading of the land and your wishes.

Submit your wish