carob tree becomes the protagonist of baldio arquitectura's residential project in argentina

three houses and a carob tree by baldio arquitectura

located in a neighborhood in the suburbs of cordoba, argentina, ‘three houses and a carob tree’ is a residential complex designed by baldio arquitectura. though the architects were commissioned to create houses for sale and rent, they didn’t want to limit their design only to functional requirements. instead, they sought to find a way to densify the existing units, without compromising the quality of life.

hence, the final design adopts an introverted character with the interiors of each unit opening towards a patio. this semi-outdoor area acts as a ‘place to escape from the routine’ with a carob tree of approximately 15 years of age becoming the protagonist of the house.all images by gonzalo viramonte

a well lit flexible space to escape from the daily routine 

the design team was asked to densify the houses by incorporating a third unit. as cordoba suffers the consequences of the horizontal expansion of the urban sprawl, the architects (see more here) opted for a vertical layout proposing ‘architecture for rent’. the main feature of each unit was to include a space with hybrid use, where the inhabitants can flee from the bustle of the city.

in this context, two of the three units consist of a ground floor with this flexible space linked to the patio, allowing natural light and ventilation to flow through the interior. this level accommodates the entrance hall with a toilet, a barbecue, a laundry room, and the staircase. rising the stairs, one faces the social area, with a kitchen, an open layout with dining and living room, and a double-height balcony that becomes the expansion on this level. moving up to the second level, there are two bedrooms and a bathroom, with the possibility to expand a third one if needed.

a similar arrangement appears in the two-story house (the third unit of the triplex) as well: the ground level houses service areas with a bathroom, barbecue, and laundry room. here, the difference is that social areas are also incorporated into the ground level. thus, the kitchen, dining room overlook the patio with the carob tree and are also linked to the patio from the adjacent unit. on the upper floor, the central courtyard divides the sleeping areas into two wings, each with its own bathroom. through the patios, the architects sought to generate a spatial continuity bringing at the same time some pops of green to the otherwise off-white interior.

sustainable living environment

as for the materiality, the architects opted for more rough materials on the outside — which can withstand inclement weather — and more polished materials for the inside. the color palette ranges in neutral hues, with whites and grays, while combined with light wood touches, to create a warm atmosphere. these neat hues offer a bit more flexibility to the users that are going to inhabit the places, giving them the freedom to organize the spaces according to their needs and desires.  

overall, the architects aimed to promote a more sustainable living environment. they gave priority to the most efficient positioning of the spaces, with the wet areas to the north and the staircase to the south. the staircase is at the center of each unit, and in relation to the carob tree. this way, with the aid of big floor-to-ceiling openings, the design emphasizes the green charm and injects abundant natural lighting into the space. moreover, the patio and the double-height balconies create transition spaces and blur the boundaries of inside and outside. meanwhile, the cross-ventilation allows passive air conditioning, using a very valuable resource in the summer months. 

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project info:

name: three houses and a carob tree
architects: baldio arquitectura
construction completion year: 2021
constructed area: 400 sqm
location: cordoba, argentina

architects in charge: arch. maria paula albrieu and arch. lucrecia caceres
design team: arch. maria paula albrieu, arch. lucrecia caceres, arch. melisa alaminos and arch. lourdes cuadro
development: brieu, construction and development
engineering: ing. edgar morán

photography: gonzalo viramonte