Martinez House

Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas

MARTINEZ HOUSE

BHY arquitectos

ARCHITECTS
BHY arquitectos

PROJECT TEAM
Javier Bracamonte, Julia Hajnal, Gonzalo Yerba

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Martinez, Argentina

CATEGORY
Houses, Renovation

This project consists of the refurbishment and extension of a “Casa Chorizo”, a traditional housing typology that arose in Buenos Aires in the late 20th century, representative of the urban middle class and the immigration waves of the time.

Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas

This typology is characterised by a succession of consecutive rooms along with a longitudinal patio that functions as the unifying nucleus of the house.

The intervention proposes three main operations:

the adaptation of the existing structure of the ground floor to accommodate the social area, the construction of a new level on the old terrace to house the private program, and the revalorisation of the lateral courtyard as a protagonist space structured by a large lightweight envelope which helps stabilise the upper floor.

Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas

The patio offers a transition zone between the inside and outside, buffering the conditions between both spaces.

The generous height of this volume framed by a series of regular ribs, ensures a monumental scale of the space while providing a sense of shelter and safety.

Besides structuring the expansion of the upper floor, this envelope supports the incipient invasion of its own and neighbouring vegetation, allowing for the creation of a new landscape which fosters the freedom and imagination of various uses for its occupants.

Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas

The deciduous vegetation that climbs over the envelope allows for optimal sun exposure during winter and offers shadows on the patio during summer, maximising the use of this space throughout the year.

At the same time, the linear garden adjacent to the party wall helps to reduce the high summer temperatures through evaporative cooling and to purify the fresh air for healthy ventilation of the house.

The exposed concrete floor both in the inside and outside areas, in addition to the thick preexisting walls of the lateral facade, offers the potential of thermal mass which further helps regulate the temperatures in a passive manner.

Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas


Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas


Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas
Martinez House
© Javier Agustín Rojas


Martinez House
Existing Axonometric
Martinez House
Axonometric Project


Martinez House
Ground Floor Plan
Martinez House
Section


Martinez House
Site Plan
Martinez House
Plans


Martinez House
Sections
Martinez House
Sections
Martinez House
Details