Swaths of fabric curtain a hilltop house

There’s nothing new about using curtains to protect a house from the heat of the sun, but a hilltop home in a suburb of Guatamala City, Guatamala was designed to take this concept to an entirely new level. The “Toledo House” by Chilean firm Assadi + Pulido designed the curved and contemporary house perched on a hill that overlooks a deep valley below. With expansive deck areas around the house and pool area, there was a need to protect the house and outdoor areas from the region’s intense heat without interfering with the spectacular view afforded by its hilltop setting.

The enormous but lightweight and retractable fabric curtain surrounds the upper level, softening the substantial main structure, visually, as well as providing protection from the sun.

Photos: Cristobal Palma/ Estudio Palma