Designed around a central open courtyard, these apartments by Estudio Abramzon in Buenos Aires provide residents with light filled, thoughtfully designed homes. Reflecting the varied demographics of the chic Palermo neighbourhood the development contains a wide variety of apartment typologies ranging from 5 bedroom duplexes to studio apartments.
Taking advantage of a rare 17.30 metre wide site the apartments are divided into two volumes linked by a central open air circulation core. The ground floor is largely open and dedicated to residential amenity, as is typical of Estudio Abramzon’s projects, and contains a swimming pool, garden, traditional Argentine ‘parilla’ BBQ and the multipurpose enclosed function space that is available to be used by residents for parties, gatherings or meetings. Only a few opaque materials are used on the ground floor to help accentuate the openness of the 60 metre deep site which seems to be only punctuated with a sprinkling of round concrete columns.
18 apartments of various typologies are distributed across the four-storey volumes above and are linked by the sculptural open-air circulation core. The expansive rooftop terraces provide sweeping views over the treetops.
What materials were used?
It was decided to use expressive, raw materials with finishes that do not change the properties of the materials. Concrete is the principal material with a variety of finishes informed by the formwork. Natural timbers clad the enclosed spaces on the ground floor. Custom fabricated steel is used extensively throughout the vertical circulation core.
What were the challenges?
Palermo is a neighbourhood of great diversity, as such the development needed to contain a wide range of apartment typologies. The architects wanted each apartment to have cross-ventilation and plenty of natural light - made hard by the wide, but long site.
How did the development respond to the demographics of the neighbourhood?
To accommodate the need for a variety of apartment typologies the architects devised a modular structural system for each volume to create a spatial disciple. The modularity allowed each level to be configured as needed resulting in the desired mix of apartments.
How was cross ventilation and natural light achieved?
The decision to split the building mass into two volumes separated by an expansive courtyard affoarded each apartment the opportunity of cross-ventilation, as well as access to more natural light. This configuration also benefits the circulation spaces, allowing them to be a celebrated architectural feature.
How are the private outdoor spaces considered?
In this same sense, the building contains wide, private balconies in all the units. Furthermore, private roof terraces are accessible from within the apartments on the top levels. These spaces are thought not only as places of recreation, but also as elements that protect glazed surfaces from the elements, particularly providing shade to the apartments in summer.
