#1_ SITE
The B14 duplexes are located on a 300 m² plot within a gated community in the Maipú department, Mendoza Province, Argentina. The immediate context is characterized by a low-density urban area in the process of consolidation, as the neighborhood was recently completed. A distinctive urban feature is its direct relationship with a nearby winery and the presence of the new Metrotranvía electric rail system, located just 150 meters away, which connects the city along a north-south axis. The lot has a west-facing front and an east-facing rear, with a particular internal regulation requiring 1.5-meter side setbacks on the ground floor.
#2_ PROGRAM & TYPOLOGY
The project was commissioned for real estate purposes, based on the assumption that future users would be young professional couples working from home, or small families who might convert the study space into a child’s bedroom. Due to the investor's request for the largest possible patio for each unit and the limited plot size, a two-story architectural solution was proposed.
The ground floor is conceived as an open, bright, transparent, and versatile space, allowing fluid access to all areas. The unified living-dining-kitchen space, along with a small gallery and individual barbecue area, connects directly to a private east-facing garden. This design ensures seamless communication between areas and offers a cozy and comfortable environment for everyday life.
Upstairs, accessed via an exposed concrete staircase, the more intimate sleeping areas are located to the west, offering expansive views of the Andes mountains. The upper level also includes bathrooms and a compact, flexible common area facing east. Both the front and rear facades feature continuous balconies screened with concrete blocks, acting as semi-covered transitional spaces that provide natural light and ventilation. These balconies offer a pleasant outdoor extension of the interior, perfect for enjoying a coffee or reading a book, and contribute to a relaxing and harmonious atmosphere.
The overall design strategy is based on two mirrored housing modules, connected by a central spine of exposed reinforced concrete on the symmetry axis. This spine plays a dual role: structural—supporting much of the building’s weight—and aesthetic, becoming a defining and attractive element of the project.
#3_ TECTONICS
The material proposal maintains a unified logic across both levels. The exposed concrete spine organizes the services symmetrically: it houses the kitchen, supports the straight-run staircase (with a toilet located underneath), and acts as a blind wall at the front, distinguishing the entrances to each unit. Glass is also a key material in the project, accompanying users throughout the unit and offering diverse interior and exterior views—including panoramic sights of the Andes Mountains from the upper level.
As both a solar and urban protection strategy, the front and rear facades feature fixed concrete block lattice screens. These act as a secondary skin, creating visual dynamism for both users and passersby or neighbors.
#4_ LIGHT
At ONA, we continue to work with natural light as a core concept of our projects. In this work, we explore new strategies aligned with our disciplinary reflections. One of the main design principles was to ensure favorable solar orientation based on the east-west layout of the plot, especially for daytime areas like the kitchen, living, dining, and the gallery facing the garden.
A particularly significant spatial gesture in each unit is the introduction of a skylight located above the staircase, which brings natural light to the furthest point from the exterior. This allows direct sunlight to enter at various times of day, creating shifting atmospheres as one ascends or descends, from morning through evening.
