8 Casas complex
The “8 Casas complex” is located in Castelar town, in the western suburbs of Buenos Aires, where single-family homes coexist with clubs and public squares and makes this neighborhood a very busy area.
The building land measures 17.36 meters wide and 45.78 meters deep with southwest orientation.
The design decision was to create several residential units resting on the existing upper right party wall and open towards the left party wall, looking for northwestern sun.
The ground floor serves as a main pedestrian and vehicular entrance to all the units. The pedestrian circulation is next to a long concrete wall that guide us to each of the brick boxes, which are the independent access of each living unit. Next to each box we can find their corresponding parking lot.
As we go up, we will find the living-dining room / kitchen which expands into a raised and private garden 2.20 meters above the ground floor and connects both spaces. On the second floor, we will have the bedrooms and bathrooms.
The idea of expanding up and out is something very characteristic of this complex . It allow us to connect each home to the outside, receive a better sunlight due the elevation of each garden and keep vehicle area isolated.
The complex is made up of 8 housing units and ends towards the front in a two-story studio with the same houses style, but with the difference that the expansion is on the second floor and towards the front.
The land dimension, its neighbors and land orientation conditioned our design decisions; the stacking design, the mix of different textures and transparencies coexisting with the nature enhance the architectural design.
