This forest home is located in the Barrio Marítimo II area near Costa Esmeralda, 13 kilometers north of Pinamar city, and about a four-hour drive from Buenos Aires. The residential neighborhood runs parallel to the coastline, separated by a green pine forest buffer that complies with provincial regulations. The site’s highest point is positioned at the front, gently sloping downward away from the street, resembling sand dunes meeting the sea.
The client commissioned us to design a leisure residence that could also be rented out. The house includes typical features: a master bedroom, two secondary bedrooms, a social area, and an outdoor swimming pool. The client requested that houses protected by the forest have minimal impact on the environment. The dwelling is supported by a minimal pivot structure that houses access and service rooms, located at the site’s highest point. We chose to set the house back to comply with regulations, allowing it to blend with the surrounding pine forest, offering privacy and preserving the natural terrain.
To reduce maintenance, the house is constructed entirely of plain concrete and glass. Dark bronze aluminum oxide frames are embedded within the materials, subtly highlighting the contrast between the spans and the concrete form. The public living areas occupy the first floor, raised two meters above the natural ground level, while the bedrooms are situated on a higher level. A wall extends from the natural ground up to the roof, organizing the layout across two floors. Wet areas face the street and higher elevations, while private spaces open toward the forest.
While the lower floor features low partition walls on three sides, it opens onto an observation deck at the rear, surrounded by pine branches. This creates a seamless extension of the living and dining areas. Except for a few slender metal columns along the building’s edges, most of the structure’s support is centralized and nearly invisible from outside. The side walls rise to the roof, ensuring privacy for the bedrooms and preventing views from neighboring homes.
A key design feature for natural lighting is the inclusion of skylights above the stairwell. Additionally, the overhanging eaves above the two floors protect the front facade from direct northern sunlight. The swimming pool, designed as an independent elevated structure, is detached from the natural ground and connects to the house through an extension of the social area. To maintain visual harmony between the house and surrounding vegetation, the pool is aligned perpendicular to the building’s main volume.
▲ Sectional view
The forest dwelling is designed to harmonize with the woodland, embracing the atmosphere, charm, and imagery of the trees. It adapts to the lush green surroundings, creating a profound sense of tranquility. The upper volume appears as a compact, substantial box suspended above a lighter, transparent base. While the simplicity of stone ensures the project’s durability, the floor plan layout reflects this lifestyle philosophy.
Project Drawings
▲ General layout plan
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Third floor plan
▲ Elevation view
▲ Elevation view
▲ Elevation view
▲ Sectional view
▲ Sectional view
▲ Exploded axonometric diagram
Project Information
Project type: Independent residential building
Location: Argentina
Architectural Design: Luciano Kruk
Area: 185.0 m²
Year: 2018
Photography: Daniela Mac Adden
Manufacturers: Level, Light Factory, Blainstein, Blue Barugel
Project Coordination: Belén Ferrand
Work Coordination: Leandro Rossi, Fernando Casaux Alsina, Dan Saragusti
Partners: Andrés Conde Blanco, Denise Andreoli
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up