Dezeen Magazine

The exterior of Casa La Hornilla in Argentina

White walls enclose Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos in Argentina

Concrete, sheet metal and large stretches of glass form the exterior of a home in the province of Córdoba by Argentine firm STC Arquitectos.

The project is named after its location in La Hornilla, a suburb of Alta Gracia. The single-storey home sits on a 20- by 50-metre property in the highlands, with views of both the city and the hills.

A man sits on the porch of a white house in the countryside
Argentinian studio STC Arquitectos has built a white house in La Hornilla

Córdoba firm STC Arquitectos conceived the 168-square-metre home as a flexible building that could adapt to the client's daily needs.

"The house can either be divided to remain isolated, connected to assemble, closed to ensure privacy, or open to enjoy the landscape and outdoor areas,” the architects said.

A chair on the veranda of a wihte house
The home is wrapped in metal sheets

The home is composed of a low-lying, rectangular box adjoined to a carport in the front and a covered terrace in the rear. The design allows for future expansions, either horizontally or vertically.

The main volume's structure is made of brick and reinforced concrete. The carport and patio are surrounded by white sheet metal affixed to a metal frame.

The entrance to Casa La Hornilla
The entrance is on the east side of the building

Large stretches of glass provide transparency and usher in natural light.

The home is entered on the east, where a gently sloping ramp leads to the front door. The ramp forms part of a circulation path that runs through the home, onto the rear patio, and down a few steps to the backyard.

Inside, the home has a straightforward layout.

An open area for lounging, dining and cooking is separated from the bedroom by a partial wall. Service areas are located on the ends of the home. Finishes include a concrete ceiling and ceramic flooring that resembles wood.

"Intermediate spaces have been designed to emphasise the outdoors-indoors relation,” the studio said.

An open plan kitchen and living room overlooking green grass
An open plan living area is fronted by large glass windows

Above the entrance is a skylight that rises up from the roof. This element could accommodate the addition of stairs to an upper floor in the future, the architects said.

The patio is fitted with a built-in grill and a sink. A swimming pool is planned for the backyard.

Other projects by STC Arquitectos include a cabin in the Argentine woods that was built using reclaimed material like scrap metal and oil pipes.

The photography is by Gonzalo Viramonte.


Project credits:

Architect: STC Arquitectos
Architecture team: Juan Salassa, Santiago Tissot, Ivan Castañeda
Collaborator: Julián Perdomo

More images and plans

Casa Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Floor plan
Casa Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
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Casa Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
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Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos
Casa La Hornilla by STC Arquitectos