The OADD architects studio organizes the spaces of the house around a central courtyard and a series of terraces, constantly promoting the connection between the interior and the exterior. The central courtyard organizes the space, providing light and cross ventilation to the house.
The connection between the three floors and the terrace occurs thanks to a wooden and metal staircase facing the courtyard, acting as the epicentre of the dynamics of the house.
Constructively, the house uses simple construction elements, contributing to a sustainable design, to achieve a subtle and elegant morphology. The gaps in the brick and concrete facades are strategically perforated to allow the passage of light, creating a play of solids and voids. In addition, the green terrace on the roof contributes to thermal regulation and improves air quality.
Manuela Pedraza House by OADD arquitectos. Photograph by Luis Barandiarán.
Project description by OADD arquitectos
This single-family home, located on a small lot in Villa Urquiza, Buenos Aires, stands as an urban house that dialogues with its immediate surroundings. The morphology of the house composes the corner, contributing to not exhausting the buildable volume, in a manifest desire to maximize the surrounding urban voids.
The conformation of the house together with the carefully located openings create a pure, functional and contemporary volume. This architecture, simple and forceful, is manifested through clear lines and honest materials evoking a feeling of serenity and order.
Functionally, the house is organized in spaces that are articulated through a large central patio and terraces. The extensions function as catalysts for the daily activities of the house, promoting a constant interaction between the interior and the exterior.
On the ground floor, which is directly related to the street, there is an annex to the house intended for social and recreational activities. This sector also has a wine cellar, adding a touch of sophistication and functionality. For privacy, a microperforated aluminium sheet filter is provided on the façade.
On this floor there is also a workshop/studio and the entrance hall: all these spaces expand towards the patio.
The first floor, the main floor, houses all the daily daytime activities. A large living room opens onto a terrace with views towards the corner, generating spaciousness in the interior spaces. All these spaces look out onto the central patio, creating a continuous visual and spatial connection.
On the second floor are the bedrooms and a small studio. The top floor houses the technical and service areas of the house, including a green terrace and a swimming pool that function as recreational and leisure elements.
The link between all the floors is made through a wooden and metal staircase that looks out onto the patio, which acts as the epicentre of the dynamics of the house. This central patio not only organises the space, but also facilitates the entry of natural light and cross ventilation, creating a bright and healthy interior environment.
The material condition of the house is based on the use of a few simple construction elements that come together in a subtle and elegant morphological synthesis.
An introspective house, with calibrated cavities that establish relationships with the voids and becomes a serene and functional refuge in the middle of the urban environment.
Additional Concepts
Stereotomy: The house is conceived as a solid mass that is pierced to generate habitable spaces. The brick and concrete walls are strategically perforated to allow the passage of light and air, creating a game of full and empty spaces that enrich the spatial experience.
Sustainability: The house incorporates sustainable design principles, such as the use of local and recyclable materials such as the rainwater collection system. The green terrace contributes to thermal regulation and improves air quality.
Proportion and Urban Environment: The proportion of the spaces has been meticulously taken care of, ensuring a human scale that integrates harmoniously with the city. The housing not only responds to the needs of the users, but also contributes to the improvement of the urban landscape, respecting and enhancing the characteristics of the neighborhood.
