The house is situated in one of the most rugged areas on the outskirts of Argentina's most densely populated urban centre, the Buenos Aires Delta. This initial juxtaposition defines the site: an access canal lies at the front of the plot, while an endless, humid willow forest stretches behind.
The ground continually shifts between water and land, creating a dynamic terrain. Galgo Case 1 by BRUTO STUDIO responds to these conditions by positioning the house lengthwise, capturing the dual landscape, and maintaining a continuous relationship with the ever-changing environment.
The building takes the form of a timber parallelepiped with long, continuous elevations, subtly punctuated by the entrance and semi-permeable sections that provide ventilation while preserving privacy.
Recessed end facades frame the site’s primary views. Inside, the plan is defined by two linear volumes separated by a free-standing core, establishing a visual dialogue between the contrasting conditions of canal and forest.
Addressing fluctuating water levels, the project adopts a hybrid construction approach. The project further integrates multiple low-carbon strategies, both in its materiality and its design.
Materials and construction
The primary strategy is the extensive use of timber, a natural carbon sink. This includes Eucalyptus rostrata wood for the stilt structure (palafito) and exterior cladding, and more significantly, the use of SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) for the entire house enclosure. SIPs, composed of two wooden boards (OSB) and an insulating core, sequester carbon within their wood component.
Above this, the main structure is entirely prefabricated using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) produced 20 kilometers away. The SIPs—measuring 244 × 122 cm—establish the modular rhythm of the project, minimizing waste, simplifying transport, and serving as the high-performance thermal envelope. The house was fully assembled in the factory for quality control, then labeled, disassembled, transported as a flat kit, and reassembled on site.
This construction logic becomes a central sustainability strategy. Every element of the project must arrive by boat, making logistics a major carbon factor. The flat-pack SIP assembly drastically reduces transport emissions and avoids the need to remove waste material from the island. Off-site fabrication concentrates waste where it can be properly managed, minimizing debris on the fragile delta site.
Energy efficiency
The SIP envelope provides high thermal resistance, reducing heating demand. This is complemented by thermal-break aluminum frames (RPT) and double-glazed units (DVH), ensuring insulation continuity across the envelope.
Semi-permeable facade sections support passive cross-ventilation along the length of the building, aided by the free-standing central core. These strategies significantly reduce reliance on mechanical cooling during the humid summer months. Smart automation systems further optimize operational energy by managing HVAC and lighting, ensuring efficient use in combination with the passive strategies.
Circularity in design approach
Circularity and adaptability are embedded in the project’s construction process. Because the house was delivered and assembled as a kit of numbered panels, it inherently supports Design for Disassembly.
The SIP superstructure can be unbolted, packed, and relocated or reused at end-of-life. The interior layout, organized as two volumes around a movable core, allows for future reconfiguration without structural intervention, supporting flexible long-term use.
Formally, the cabin expresses the lightness and reversibility of its construction. Closed surfaces alternate with ventilated wooden sections to balance privacy and airflow. The two interior volumes flanking the central spine allow uninterrupted visual continuity between the canal and the forest.
The stilt structure maintains a minimal ground impact while accommodating fluctuating water levels, reinforcing the building’s relationship with its sensitive delta context.
