Casa R&C is a project by Cristián Nanzer’s studio, located in the south-western part of Córdoba, Argentina. This original single-family home was built in a gated community, near the source of the picturesque La Cañada stream. The architecture of the building is primarily determined by the specific conditions of the plot and the structure based on the rhythm of vaulted spans.
Location of Casa R&C
The plot on which Casa R&C was built slopes gently towards the northern border, where it adjoins a golf course. The slope of the terrain and the opening up of picturesque views determined the layout of the functions. The living area was placed on the first floor to obtain distant perspectives, while the bedrooms, everyday rooms and utility rooms were located at ground level, in direct contact with the garden. The lower storey forms a massive base from which the independent structure of the first floor rises. The roof, consisting of five parallel vaults, is supported on it. The spacing of the spans was determined in such a way as to make full use of the plot area while maintaining the distances from the boundaries required by regulations. Each span is 3.45 metres wide and 15.50 metres long, which creates an extremely impressive effect.
Design by Cristián Nanzer’s studio
The composition of the house is defined by five structural bands that organise all functions on both levels. The entrance is located in a two-storey space with a view of the golf course. Here, there is a staircase connecting both floors and providing access to the garden and pool area. The concept is based on two basic measures. The first is a massive base that adapts to the slope of the terrain and facilitates access to the building. The second is a system of vaults raised above it, supported by an independent structure and extending far beyond the north and south facades. This creates sheltered intermediate zones that regulate the relationship between the interior and the garden.
A contemporary design inspired by classic modernism
The materials used emphasise the division between the heavy base and the lighter upper storey. The walls of the ground floor are made of concrete and stone, which gives the structure mass and expressiveness. The first floor opens up to the landscape with wide glazing, and the brick vaults expose their geometry in the interior. Solid side walls protect the living area from view from neighbouring properties. Stone and concrete dominate Casa R&C, while brick appears only in the construction of the vaults, where it diffuses soft light in the main space of the house. Electrical installations are visible in galvanised pipes, referring to the aesthetics of industrial buildings and allowing for easy modifications in the future.
The identity of Casa R&C
Apart from the arches, the water tank stands out in the design. It was planned as an autonomous, sculptural element placed at the entrance. It does not touch the body of the house, providing a vertical accent in the composition. Thanks to this, the vaulted roof remains free of installations, and the body gains a clearly defined character. The house was built on the outskirts of a vast metropolis, in a context typical of Latin American cities, where different scales and forms of development meet. The design uses universal, historically established techniques, such as massive walls and vaults, implemented with the participation of local contractors. Casa R&C presents a trend in contemporary architecture developed on the basis of the modernist tradition, filtered through the conditions of place and time.
Design:CristiánNanzer
Photographs:GonzaloViramonte
See also:Single-family house|Villas and residences|Concrete|Stone|Modernism|whiteMAD on Instagram
