- Project: Rodor House
- Architect: OMCM Arquitectos
- Location: Paraguay, Asuncion
- Year: 2023
- Area: 2000 m2
- Photography: Renato Duria
A House Among Trees: Nature as the Protagonist
Within the lush expanse of Asunción’s Botanical Garden district, Rodor House by OMCM arquitectos emerges as an ode to coexistence — between architecture, vegetation, and the Paraguayan subtropical climate.
Set on a sprawling 3-hectare urban plot, this 2,000 m² residence was conceived for a large, lively family seeking a home that celebrates togetherness while preserving every existing tree on the site. Rather than imposing on nature, the architects approached the land as a living ecosystem, where flora and fauna shaped the home’s form, orientation, and material character.
Design Philosophy: Respect and Integration
The project began with a meticulous topographic and arboricultural survey, documenting every tree and slope. This foundational “x-ray” guided a design strategy rooted in preservation — not a single tree was removed.
At the heart of the plan lies an ancient tree, now the symbolic and spatial core of the house. Around it, a square 25 × 25-meter volume organizes domestic life through concentric layers of openness and intimacy.
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The semi-basement discreetly accommodates service areas, mechanical rooms, and storage, taking advantage of the natural site slope.
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The ground floor unfolds as a fluid social domain — living, dining, and entertainment spaces expanding outward through sliding glass and shaded terraces.
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The upper floor hosts six en-suite bedrooms, arranged around the central void, where the treetop visually and atmospherically binds the entire home together.
Above it all, a roof terrace crowns the residence — complete with a gym, spa, and panoramic swimming pool — offering breathtaking views over the surrounding botanical canopy.
Material Expression: Brutalism with Warmth
The material palette is deliberately austere and tactile, celebrating craftsmanship and climatic logic.
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Exposed concrete defines the primary structure, lending solidity and thermal mass.
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Dry-jointed brick masonry adds warmth and texture, a contemporary interpretation of Paraguay’s vernacular techniques.
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Mechanical ironwork, visible in screens, shutters, and sliding elements, introduces a kinetic layer — blending function and artistry.
Despite its monumental appearance, Rodor House exudes lightness and transparency. The architecture opens generously toward the vegetation, establishing an ever-changing dialogue of light, shade, and reflection.
Climate Responsiveness & Passive Comfort
Asunción’s humid subtropical climate demands strategies for heat mitigation and natural ventilation.
OMCM arquitectos responded with a deep façade rhythm — horizontal projections that cast shade throughout the day — and a staggered section where upper elements overhang to cool the lower volumes.
The interior maintains a deliberate penumbra, filtering daylight through vegetation and materials to produce a tranquil, thermally comfortable atmosphere. Every decision — from orientation to overhang depth — reinforces the architects’ commitment to passive environmental design.
Rodor House by OMCM arquitectos is not merely a residence; it is a manifesto on coexistence. It reinterprets modern Paraguayan domestic architecture through the lens of ecological respect, material honesty, and spatial generosity.
By centering the design around an existing tree, the architects created a home that breathes with the landscape, transforming a private commission into a living extension of Asunción’s botanical heritage.
