Experience Recognition Studio Contact
Concrete volume and lit windows beside the pool at nightfall — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Frontage with white upper volume and perforated metal gate — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Detail of the metal gate with vertical slots — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Carport under the concrete slab with courtyard beyond — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Exposed-concrete slab over the driveway — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Courtyard with a tree between the two houses — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Rear façade with external stair and swimming pool — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Garden with pool and concrete beams on the rear façade — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Pool, garden and external concrete stair — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Pool and garden toward the rear volume — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
The complex seen from above with the city beyond — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Terrace with railing under the concrete beam — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Upper terrace with concrete bench — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Junction of concrete beams seen among trees — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Dining room and kitchen with island under exposed-concrete slab — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
White kitchen with island and concrete ceiling — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Integrated living room, dining area and kitchen — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Kitchen island with timber stools — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Galley kitchen with timber island and window — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Terrace with black railing and concrete beams — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Rear façade lit with stair and pool at nightfall — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Corner of the house lit beside the pool — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
Lit pool and concrete volumes at nightfall — Larrea Houses, Mar del Plata
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Larrea Houses

Category
Vivienda multifamiliar · Hasta 3 niveles
Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina
Year
2024
Status
Built work
Photography
Ramiro Sosa
Press
ARQA
Recognition
3° Premio CAPBA 2024 Multifamiliar hasta 3 niveles
Covered area
347,34 m²

Extended Family: the Void as Proposal

Casas Larrea is an ensemble of two dwellings that emerges as a response to a family need, exploring the concept of housing. This project seeks to challenge the inertia of traditional living spaces, adapting to contemporary transformations and cohabitation needs.

The project promotes the coexistence of an extended family, enriching the everyday experiences of its inhabitants and allowing two nuclear families — an elderly couple (grandparents) and a mother with her two children — to live in proximity and share resources and support.

"Architecture must enrich life, both in the collective and the individual dimension."

— Peter Zumthor

Although living in community requires commitment and flexibility, the design of Casas Larrea proposes respect for individual spaces and needs, promoting a harmonious balance between private life and communal life, while also providing security by having close people nearby in case of emergency.

The project is organised around two main voids: the access courtyard and the social courtyard.

The access courtyard acts as an articulating element between both dwellings. This empty space, beyond containing the access to the dwellings, connecting and separating them, encourages casual encounters among the members of the extended family.

The social courtyard allows, when residents choose to have moments of gathering, for these to take place in this space; its use is encouraged by the presence of the barbecue area and the swimming pool.

This shared space not only facilitates mutual support, but also offers the opportunity to create memories and shared moments, promoting a sense of community and belonging.

"Space is structured according to life, according to the way people live and relate to one another."

— Álvaro Siza

Thus, the courtyards become living and active spaces, where the void is both a meeting point and a boundary. The private expansions of each dwelling participate in the courtyards, reinforcing the interaction between the solid and the void, the closed and the open.

This project enables a dynamic and adaptable way of life, where inhabitants can control their level of exposure and interaction, enriching their everyday experience of dwelling.