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A Concrete Vacation House Keeps Life Simple in Coastal ArgentinaView 10 Photos

A Concrete Vacation House Keeps Life Simple in Coastal Argentina

Luciano Kruk perforates a concrete volume with glass walls to fashion a simple yet elegant vacation home in the province of Buenos Aires.
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On a quiet lot populated with aged pinewood, Luciano Kruk designed a modest vacation home for three sisters and their families. The 807-square-foot, two-level home is ensconced in its forest setting. 

Luciano Kruk devised an economical floor plan at the clients’ request. "The house was constituted as a compact block," said the firm, with shared living spaces on the ground floor and two bedrooms—one a private master and the other a bunk room—up top. 

Luciano Kruk devised an economical floor plan at the clients’ request. "The house was constituted as a compact block," said the firm, with shared living spaces on the ground floor and two bedrooms—one a private master and the other a bunk room—up top. 

The firm employed board-formed concrete inside and out to connect the building with its environment. "Pine planks were used to set the formwork so that the partitions, as well as the slabs, would preserve the texture of the wood veins in an attempt to establish a harmonious dialogue with the bark of the local trees," said the firm.

The second-floor terrace forms a partial covering for the deck below it.

The second-floor terrace forms a partial covering for the deck below it.

A glass enclosure at the front corner visually lightens up the concrete massing, while bringing in natural light filtered through the surrounding trees.

A glass enclosure at the front corner visually lightens up the concrete massing, while bringing in natural light filtered through the surrounding trees.

"When we designed this floor plan, we aimed at making it feel like an indoor space—sheltered by the roof and the windows—but at the same time, somewhere in between in a continuum with the outside," said the firm.

"When we designed this floor plan, we aimed at making it feel like an indoor space—sheltered by the roof and the windows—but at the same time, somewhere in between in a continuum with the outside," said the firm.

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Inside, concrete is used as both a finish and a building material for integrated furnishings.

Inside, concrete is used as both a finish and a building material for integrated furnishings.

"Instead of confining the house’s different uses into separated rooms, they have been connected with each other, aiming at producing the general feeling of spatial expansion," said the firm.

"Instead of confining the house’s different uses into separated rooms, they have been connected with each other, aiming at producing the general feeling of spatial expansion," said the firm.

The uninterrupted use of concrete throughout the interior creates a sense of fluidity between spaces.

The uninterrupted use of concrete throughout the interior creates a sense of fluidity between spaces.

The corner of the living area is wrapped in glass.

The corner of the living area is wrapped in glass.

A stairwell is punctuated with natural light from an expansive window on the second-floor.

A stairwell is punctuated with natural light from an expansive window on the second-floor.

The master bedroom opens onto a semicovered outdoor patio, shared with the adjacent bunk room. "In its minimum scale, the house rises by its own will, but also integrates itself respectfully with its surroundings, both natural and human-built," said the firm.

The master bedroom opens onto a semicovered outdoor patio, shared with the adjacent bunk room. "In its minimum scale, the house rises by its own will, but also integrates itself respectfully with its surroundings, both natural and human-built," said the firm.

Melissa Dalton
Dwell Contributor
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing for Dwell since 2017. Read more of her work about design and architecture at melissadalton.net.

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