- Project: Pekin House
- Architect: Grupo Tim Arquitectos
- Location: Argentina, Lares
- Year: 2023
- Area: 150 m2
- Photography: Luis Barandiaran
Modernist Inspiration and Minimalist Ethos
Designed by TIM Arquitectos, the Pekin House in Lares, Argentina, is a refined exercise in minimalist modernism. Completed in 2023, this 1,603-square-foot residence reflects the studio’s signature principles: clean lines, unadorned facades, rational planning, and the intelligent use of glass and concrete.
The project forms part of a broader neighborhood development that echoes the spirit of modern rationalist architecture. Much like the experimental Ocho al Cubo in Chile—where architects designed homes without clients as part of a collective laboratory—Casa Pekin explores the idea of architecture as pure form, independent yet unified within its setting.
Spatial Clarity and Design Principles
The house is defined by its two distinct planes: one solid and blind, the other fully glazed. Together, they create a dynamic tension between privacy and transparency. The generous eaves extend outward, visually lightening the structure while shading the glazed walls of the social area. The home appears to float above the ground, reinforcing its modernist aesthetic.
Inside, the 150 m² program is carefully divided:
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Three main rooms, including two bedrooms
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A separate kitchen designed to function independently from the living-dining space
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The social space, conceived as the project’s core, where glazed walls, an exposed concrete ceiling, and minimalist furnishings converge to create a serene yet vibrant gathering area
This separation of functions—particularly between the kitchen and social zone—underscores the architects’ desire to optimize comfort and clarity, allowing each space to fully embody its purpose.
Material Palette and Atmosphere
Pekin House draws heavily on the material vocabulary of the Modern Movement:
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Exposed concrete provides structural honesty and permanence
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Glass walls ensure constant dialogue with the outdoors
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Wood finishes bring warmth and contrast
The result is a residence that feels at once light, rational, and timeless, grounded in modernist tradition while adapted for contemporary living.
A Floating Modernist Retreat
More than a house, Pekin House embodies architecture as purity. Its rationalist lines, geometric precision, and thoughtful materiality create a dwelling that celebrates both form and function. By elevating the social space as the protagonist of the design, TIM Arquitectos ensured that the home fosters community, openness, and balance.
