atelierM's grassy LuMa house encircles a century-old oak tree

the house with a spiraling rooftop

LuMa, one of the newest projects by Argentina-based architecture studio AtelierM, takes a unique approach to residential design. Located in Martínez, Buenos Aires, the house isn’t just built on a lot with a tree — it’s designed with a sweeping green roof to coexist with a majestic, hundred-year-old oak tree that stands at the heart of the property. The architects faced a complex challenge from the outset. The main facade faces north, which presented an issue for the homeowners who desired maximum privacy. What’s more, they sought to integrate an existing oak tree sensitively into the design while ensuring ample natural light throughout the house.

images © AtelierM

sensitive architecture by atelierM

Planning its LuMa residence, the design team at AtelierM looked to the sun’s movement as a guiding principle to inform the architecture. The most significant challenge, the group notes, was establishing a meaningful connection with the oak tree itself. The architects ask: ‘Should we contemplate it, admire it, explore it? And if so, from what angle? In its immediate surroundings or looking up at its imposing height?‘

Through careful consideration, AtelierM arrived at a solution that lends an exciting sensory experience. Approaching the house from the street, visitors encounter a windowless facade topped with a sloping green roof. From this roof emerges the powerful form of the oak tree, defying expectations. Upon entering the house, a circular patio unfolds, with the oak tree as its centerpiece. This creates an atmosphere of awe and contemplation. The architectural elements then take center stage, revealing a path that winds around the tree from ground level. This “beam” spirals upwards, connecting the ground floor to the second level and creating a harmonious dialogue with the oak’s form.

AtelierM’s LuMa house in Argentina is designed around a hundred-year-old oak tree

luma integrates with overgrown nature

Natural light, always entering LuMa from the north, plays a crucial role for the architects at AtelierM. Sunlight is invited to illuminate the leaves of the oak tree, offering warmth in the winter and shade during the hot summer months, casting patterned shadows across the interior living spaces. The culmination of the home’s experience is a pathway that leads from the living room to a rooftop garden, elevating visitors amongst the oak’s lush, gnarled branches. By bypassing the private areas along the first floor, this walking path offers an intimate and panoramic view of the picturesque, overgrown landscape.

the north-facing facade prioritizes privacy while maximizing natural light
the architects debated how to create a meaningful connection with the oak tree
a blind facade and green roof hides the house from the street, with the oak tree emerging dramatically