Specialized design for every shared space in a residential building
From entrance lobbies to rooftop terraces, we provide design consultancy that covers the full range of common areas in new residential buildings across Chile.
Lobbies & Entrance Halls
The lobby is the building's handshake with every resident and visitor. It sets expectations, communicates quality, and manages the daily flow of people entering and exiting. A lobby that feels institutional or neglected creates a persistent negative impression that affects how residents experience the building as a whole.
We design lobbies that balance functional requirements — mailboxes, package areas, concierge positions, elevator access — with an aesthetic that reflects the building's positioning and creates a genuine sense of arrival.
Service Includes:
- Spatial layout and circulation flow analysis
- Material and finish specification
- Lighting concept and fixture specification
- Furniture and fixture selection
- Signage and wayfinding guidance
- Technical documentation for contractors
Quinchos & BBQ Areas
The quincho is the most socially loaded space in a Chilean residential building. It's where the building's community life happens — birthdays, asados, family gatherings. When it's poorly designed, it generates conflicts over noise, smoke, capacity, and cleaning responsibilities. When it works well, it becomes one of the building's most valued assets.
We design quinchos that actually function: proper ventilation to manage smoke and heat, seating layouts that accommodate realistic group sizes, surfaces and materials that withstand real use, and acoustic considerations that respect neighboring units.
Service Includes:
- Ventilation and smoke extraction requirements
- Grill station and cooking area layout
- Seating capacity and furniture specification
- Durable surface and material selection
- Lighting for day and evening use
- Usage guideline framework for administration
Cowork & Study Areas
Remote and hybrid work has fundamentally changed what residents need from their buildings. A cowork space that consists of a table and a few chairs in a repurposed room will sit empty. A cowork space designed around actual work behavior — with adequate lighting, acoustic separation, reliable connectivity infrastructure, and ergonomic furniture — will be used daily.
We design cowork areas that serve different work modes: focused individual work, small group collaboration, and video calls — with appropriate zoning and acoustic treatment for each.
Service Includes:
- Work mode zoning and layout
- Acoustic treatment specification
- Ergonomic furniture selection
- Lighting specification for task work
- Connectivity infrastructure requirements
- Booking and usage system guidance
Shared Terraces & Rooftops
Outdoor shared spaces present a distinct set of design challenges: sun exposure, wind, rain, maintenance of plant material, and the need to serve multiple simultaneous uses by residents with different preferences. A terrace without adequate shade becomes unusable in Santiago's summer. A rooftop without defined zones generates conflict over noise and occupation.
We design terraces and rooftops with defined zones for different activities, appropriate shade and weather protection, planting that is realistic to maintain, and a visual identity that connects to the building's overall design language.
Service Includes:
- Activity zoning and circulation layout
- Shade and weather protection specification
- Outdoor furniture and surface selection
- Planting plan with maintenance requirements
- Lighting for evening use
- Waterproofing and drainage coordination
Space Planning & Program Consulting
Before any space is designed, the program needs to be right. How much square footage should the quincho receive relative to the number of units? Does the building need a cowork space, or would that area serve residents better as a social room? What common areas will actually differentiate this building in its market segment?
We provide early-stage consulting that helps developers define the right common area program — based on the building's unit mix, target resident profile, and competitive context — before architectural design locks in the spatial allocations.
Service Includes:
- Common area program definition and review
- Space allocation recommendations
- Budget distribution guidance
- Competitive context analysis
- Integration with architectural program
- Design brief development