Devoto House in Argentina by Andrés Remy Arquitectos

Located in Argentina, this 500m2 home by Andrés Remy Arquitectos was created for a young family who wanted to feel close to nature in an urban environment. The architects decided to bring in lush grass and lots of water to make the backyard an escape from city life.

The pool was a key element in the design and has an interesting story behind it. Apparently it used to be closer to the living room but there was too much shade from the home, so the designers moved it to the far corner where there was ample sunlight. However, it was again shaded by the tall security fence. The only way to keep it in direct sunlight all the time was to raise it. Unfortunately, this meant that it wouldn’t be able to be viewed from the first floor rooms. But, the architects didn’t accept that and created a partial glass wall so that you could see the water from just about everywhere in the home.

This is the coolest above-ground pool I’ve ever seen, that’s for sure.

From the architects:

This project was a great challenge for the Studio, considering that it was going to take part of the urban structure. The lot of 18 x 24 meters is located in Devoto. It is between two existing buildings that threatens the project when the problem of isolation and view.

For this reason this project is leaning towards its neighbor, creating an introspective posture that creates the views from the inside rather than from the outside. An architecture that generated its own views.

In this manner the Project was able to solve the basis of isolation and views from the garden. This was a constant worry from the clients since the beginning of the Project.

The house of 500 m2 was done for a young couple with kids. It was larger than the dimensions of given lot, threatening the space of the garden. For that reason, the first floor was given less program, leaving open the exterior spaces.

The living, kitchen and dining rooms expose the garden that penetrates all the volumes in the house. The spaces distort the conventional plans of an urban house. The stone wall guides the inhabitant within the house, therefore, the rough texture of the streets are soften by the water that flows down the stone wall, a walk that is colored by the different qualities the water gives the space.

The green area between the living room and the neighbor guides the way to the entrance of the house. It is surrounded by the natural setting and different tones that the light of the sun gives to the space.

In this Project, the impact of the sun path was carefully studied, especially to place the swimming pool. One more time, water takes a big role in the creation of this house. This time the swimming pool is elevated from the ground creating a glass wall that allows views from within and the outside, creating views from different points in the house and focal point outside the house.

The house is formed vertically having a shifting effect. The bedrooms are located in the east overlooking the heart of the house, the garden. The last floor places a spa; having a jacuzzi, sauna and a gym with an exterior space. Privately settled for the couple.

This Project goes beyond the rigid setting. It translates the urban setting into a natural setting subtlety. It pushes the boundaries of the conventional urban home to a spacious living where one has the best of both, the natural and the urban setting.

Year: 2009
Design Team: Andrés Remy, Carlos Arellano, Hernán Pardillos, Julieta Rafel, Lilian Kandus
Interior Design: Andrés Remy, Julieta Rafel, Diego Siddi, Martin Dellatorre
Photography: Alejandro Peral

[via If It’s Hip, It’s Here]