Two clients joined forces to commission one building with two separate homes by Buenos Aires studio Hitzig Militello Arquitectos, which has been coloured grey to contrast with its neighbours (+ slideshow).

The two occupants of Two Houses Conde in Buenos Aires were both looking for homes around the same size, so Hitzig Militello Arquitectos encouraged them to buy a plot of land together.

"They were both young, entrepreneurial guys, and I felt the land had potential to adjust to the size of two houses, so we encouraged them to buy a plot of land together," architect Leonardo G. Militello told Dezeen.

The building occupies the full width of the site to maximise space for both homes, and has been painted grey and covered in perforated metal shutters to contrast with the neighbouring buildings.

"The houses have nothing to do with the neighbourhood style. The owners wanted something different, but mute," said Militello.

Both homes are approximately the same size, with rooms arranged across three storeys. One is built at the front of the building, with two bedrooms and a playroom, and one is built at the back, with three bedrooms.

Stairs between the floors of the two homes have been arrange externally around a central courtyard, in order to free up space inside for other uses. One home has two flights of stairs, and the other has one.

The external stairs are enclosed in grey corrugated metal and feature perforated metal stair treads.

Perforated metal has also been used for shutters on the exterior of the building, which permits light into the homes while maintaining privacy.

Both homes have staggered set-backs to create space for terraces that are not overlooked by the others.

Timber flooring and white walls have been used inside to create a contrast with the building's dark exterior, while dark-grey metal balustrades offer a sense of continuity with the industrial character of the exterior.

Wood encases the cupboards on the kitchen walls, and extends out to form open shelves above the counter top.

Photography is by Federico Kulekdjian.

Project details

Project documentation and construction: 
HM Arquitectos (Fernando Hitzig and Leonardo G. Militello)
Collaborators:
Rubén Ruiz, Virginia Bottan
Construction: Estudio hma
Structural advisor: Carlos Gandini