Surrounded by trees in a lush forest south of Buenos Aires, an elegant concrete and glass summer house celebrates simplicity, while showcasing the materials of which it's made.
Besonías Almeida Arquitectos have created a holiday residence that climbs the gentle slope on which it is built. To the eastern side, an almost blank concrete wall faces the road. Even here the structure intrigues, with three rising volumes each topped by its own overhanging slab roof.
Concrete is left raw inside and out, as well as providing the material for built in furniture, in keeping with the brief for an entirely maintenance-free holiday home. The honesty of the shuttering, bearing the imprint of wooden planks, echoes the trees which surround the house.
At one end, there's a large shaded deck. A few stairs lead up to the main living area, which opens out onto another outdoor area to the side. Bedrooms are up again towards the back, with floor to ceiling glass inviting in the forest beyond.
This summer house provides all that is needed and nothing more. There are distant echoes of a traditional forest cabin, with concrete replacing the customary wood.
Photography by Federico Kulekdjian.
Looking for another summertime escape? Then you need to see Kod Arkitekter’s Japanese-inspired holiday home on the Stockholm archipelago.
