- Project: AV House
- Architect: A4estudio
- Location: Argentina, Maipú, Mendoza
- Year: 2023
- Area: 365 m2
Set in a gated community in the suburbs of Maipú, Mendoza, AV House is a poetic interpretation of permanence and void, designed by the award-winning studio A4estudio. The house serves as a temporary dwelling for its owners during visits to the region, with an architectural concept grounded in sculptural materiality and spatial introspection.
A Design Rooted in Privacy and Landscape
Responding to its flat site and panoramic views of the Andes Mountains, the project is organized to offer both openness and seclusion. The layout prioritizes the master suite and main living areas, while guest bedrooms are intentionally isolated to ensure greater privacy for occasional visitors.
At its core, the project seeks to connect with the landscape while crafting protected zones for intimacy and rest. This duality of openness and shelter is achieved through a composition of intermediate patios and layered concrete planes.
Excavated Geometry and Intermediate Spaces
The design metaphor of “excavated stone” guides the formal and spatial strategies. A sequence of central courtyards and deep-set openings articulates the structure, breaking down its mass into breathable volumes while maintaining a fortress-like presence.
These courtyards do more than provide light and ventilation—they generate a rhythmic transition between indoor and outdoor environments. The use of thickened openings reinforces the sensation of inhabiting a carved monolith, with layered shadows and filtered views enriching the daily experience of the space.
Structural and Material Integrity
AV House employs a system of exposed concrete beams supported by continuous vertical walls, creating a legible structural language that defines both form and function. The architecture does not disguise its construction; rather, it celebrates concrete as a raw, expressive medium aligned with the idea of excavation and permanence.
The mineral quality of the concrete, left in its natural state, enhances the building’s dialog with the landscape, echoing the textures and tones of Mendoza’s surrounding terrain.
Key Features of AV House by A4estudio
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Architectural Concept: Excavated mass, privacy, and view orientation
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Material Palette: Exposed concrete with mineral textures
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Design Strategy: Fragmentation through patios and thresholds
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Structural Logic: Continuous walls and overhead beams
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Contextual Response: Framing the Andes in a secure residential enclave
