Nora Laffont and Osvaldo Castaldi live a relaxed, simple life outside of Argentina’s capital city. The empty nesters, who have three children and six grandchildren, decided to downsize in 2019—and they hired architect Florencia Rissotti to help them design their future home.

Though this was the first residential project that Rissotti had designed and built from scratch, her values and vision aligned seamlessly with those of the homeowners. “In some ways, we were inspired by the Eames House—both in its simplicity and kind of industrial look, as well as its spatial distribution—and that was the starting point,” says the young architect, who started her firm in 2018. “There was a joint desire—both mine and the owners’—to make a house with a few square meters, but with as much air and views as possible.”

Rissotti worked with Nora and Osvaldo from the beginning, helping secure the perfect plot of land in Florida, Vicente López, a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. They demolished the small on-site residence, began construction in September 2019, and completed the project in February 2021, following five months of pandemic-related delays.

Risotti’s objective was to design a space with a small footprint that would still be generous enough to host the whole family. She achieved it by creating a double-height “prism” with a luminous, loft-like kitchen and living spaces encircled with patios and gardens. Echoes of the Eames House, the midcentury-modern landmark in Los Angeles, are evident throughout the home.

“I think I would describe it as a cozy house. When you walk in, it has a kind of vacation home spirit,” shares Rissotti. “There is something in the brightness of the spaces, the material palette, and the connection with the exteriors that make it very warm. It’s a modern and classic house at the same time.”

A large library cabinet made from a native wood called lenga separates the living areas from the couple’s ground-floor bedroom. The multifunctional unit provides library space on the living room side and a storage unit for the dressing area in the primary bedroom. It also extends up to the mezzanine level, where the grandchildren like to play.

Equally important is the home’s connection to the exterior landscape. As an avid gardener, Nora worked with Rissotti on the landscape design, integrating native, free-growing plants that she hopes will one day abound with butterflies. Rissotti further capitalized on the indoor/outdoor ambiance, designing spaces like the quincho that open fully to the outdoors. Osvaldo enjoys barbecuing and gathering his family around the table in this semicovered space, which features folding glass doors.

Sustainability was also a top priority for the couple, who are ecologically committed in their personal lives. The design team was able to incorporate solar panels that supply hot water, electricity, and heat for the swimming pool. “In Argentina, renewable energy systems are just beginning, and it is not usual to use them in urban or suburban houses—so it was quite an achievement,” says Rissotti.

The home’s solar panels supply hot water, electricity, and heating for the swimming pool." layout="" credit="Add credit" photoUserId=""/>

Another objective was to use durable, low-maintenance materials. “We chose to make the house of exposed brick, without paint or exterior treatment as a noble, timeless, and classic element of the buildings in the area,” says Rissotti. Metallic elements make up the structure of the home, and the roof is made of precast concrete slabs and exposed cross-linked beams.

Today, the home’s open, airy, relaxed spirit is reflective of its owners, who enjoy surrounding themselves with family, food, books, and movies. “Working on this project was a wonderful experience,” says Rissotti. “The challenge of the blank sheet, and the opportunity to be able to express my vision of what true luxury is in today’s architecture. The frank and continuous link of the house with the environment, the simple and generous spaces. The use of raw, austere, and noble materials. The experience of the outdoors reachable from each sector of the house. The feeling of warmth. What gives me the most satisfaction is having passed some of this vision to the owners.”

Related Reading:

An Eye-Popping Stair Puts a Contemporary Twist on a Historic Apartment

A Rippling Brick Roof Caps a Sun-Kissed Home in Argentina

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Florencia Rissotti / @florenciarissotti

Builder/General Contractor: Jose Luis Guiu

Structural Engineer: Pedro Gea

Solar Energy: SOLARLATAM

Photographer: Fernando Schapochnik / @fschapochnik

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An Empty-Nester Couple’s Home Near Buenos Aires Draws Inspiration From the Eames House