scale-like concrete façade interrupts dwelling's horizontality in argentina by estudio galera

nestled in the woodland of cariló, a seaside town in argentina, ‘galatea’ by estudio galera is an L-shaped vacation home that reflects a rustic holiday lifestyle. the horizontality of the architecture and the sense of permeability is only interrupted by a pivot brise-soleil system and a façade of prefabricated concrete ‘scales’ that control the sunlight’s entrance and the views of the internal circulation from the street. exposed concrete, corten steel, aluminium and glass make up the scarce materials used throughout the dwelling.all images courtesy of diego medina fotografia

the residence by estudio galera presents an ambiguous relationship with the outside; the visual continuity of the interior is only randomly suspended by the metal structure which produces a strong personal character as the occupants can modify the façade depending on their preferences or needs. daylight incidence according to the position of the sun was taken into account in the design of the different elements. lights, shadows, and the way they manifest on the different surfaces enrich the whole experience.

the social areas have been lifted from the lot level while the system of pivot brise-soleil solves the different degrees of openness. the 70cmx40cm concrete pieces were projected and manufactured in a workshop, bearing in mind the ideal size and weight for their transportation and assembly on site. the load-bearing structure consists of a lower beam that rests on a few columns and an upper beam that becomes the support in height. the pieces are ‘stuck’ together with concrete and connected by two iron bars that ‘sew’ them to the beams.

the façade is reduced to a single prefabricated piece that rationalizes the building process to its maximum. both systems of brise-soleil were designed following a recognizable pattern, even when their materiality and technology are different. the materials used were selected for their zero maintenance and to reflect the passage of time over them. their natural aging by been exposed to the coastal climate will incorporate the residence into the landscape.

the pine boards used in the formwork print a distorted natural image on the concrete. the exposed reinforced concrete is, by definition, contradictory as the frame remains on the inside and the only thing one sees is two or three mm of concrete. ‘even though we do not perceive the forces, we know that the composite material is resisting compression and traction with the iron bars protected by the concrete.’

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project info:

name: galatea house

architects: estudio galera

design team: ariel galera, cesar amarante, francisco villamil

location: cariló town, argentina

lot area: 1015 sqm ( 10,925 sq. ft.)

building area: 285 sqm (3,068 sq. ft.)

collaborators: carla pierrestegui. architect

project supervisor: pablo ahumada 

administration management: verónica coleman

photography: diego medina fotografia

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom