The central concepts of General Ludwig 2 residential building were born in 2012, when we were making a conventional housing tower 15 stories high, with a pair of penthouses with double height on the top floor. In the course of that previous work we questioned our architecture team why only top-floor apartment could have greater heights or terraces broader than the others floors? Why only the top floor could be special ?
© Pablo Casals Aguirre
We decided that we should be able to develop a residential tower for the middle class that will feature spaces as good as penthouses, but for all departments at all levels. In 2013 we start designing two residential buildings on the street General Ludwig, an old and quiet residential street in the municipality of Las Condes, surrounded by residential buildings 15-20 flats that were built during the ’90s.
© Pablo Casals Aguirre
The site has 5000m2, but appear bigger because it was cut for vehicular passage bottom type of cul de sac through the half. The landform allowed us to easily full FAR with two towers with a very small footprint on the first floor, this allowed us to open the door to experiment with the size of the departments (cubic meters) without affecting the garden.
© Pablo Casals Aguirre
We design apartments of 2 and 3 bedrooms based on a pattern, which was to move the enclosure “living room” 3 meters to the left and then three meters to the right on the top floor without changing the rest of the apartment layout.
© Pablo Casals Aguirre
The zig-zag movement on section allowed the living-dining room to generate double heights in all departments to improve the quality of life of all occupants of the building (not just the penthouse). The owners enjoy a wider view, more space and the possibility of building a loft if needed an additional enclosure in the double height.
Project Info
Architects: Eugenio Simonetti, Renato Stewart
Country: Chile, Las Condes
Area: 11466 m²
Year: 2016
Photographs: Pablo Casals Aguirre
Structure: Eduardo Spoerer
Model: Eduardo Maldonado
Architect In Charge: Alvaro Romero T
Design Team: Danilo Magni, Juan Santamaria, Leonardo Eyzaguirre
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.