In the Argentine province of Córdoba, a house with an uncompromising concrete and stone structure has been built on a hill. Cristián Nanzer’s design rises from the ground like a natural rock, making it a perfect fit for the local landscape. The entire concept of the building is based on a raw structure and rhythm, with light clearly emphasising the texture of the concrete.
The property is located near Cerro El Dragón, between the towns of La Falda and Huerta Grande. The plot stretches across the steep slopes separating the Punilla Valley from the Sierras Chicas mountain range. The semi-arid climate of the region, the wide panoramas and the changing horizon imposed a clear framework on the design. The house is set on a natural terrace, which offers distant panoramic views of the vast pampas.
The architect designed the house in a linear fashion, on two storeys. The lower level serves as a massive plinth. Its thick walls of cyclopean concrete (combined with stone) house guest rooms, a craft workshop, technical facilities and an entrance leading from the garage. The ground floor also opens onto an outdoor terrace that connects it to the garden. Above it rises the upper storey, clearly separated structurally and visually from the lower part of the building. Its spectacular form is based on a six-metre span module, with distinct projections beyond the outline of the lower part. In private areas, the module becomes denser, introducing subtle variation in the rhythm of the façade.
The house on the hill, with an area of nearly 530 square metres, openly displays the logic of its construction. The stone plinth, subordinated to the same geometric grid, supports a concrete monolith. This protrudes towards the edges, creating arcades and galleries on almost all façades. An internal communication route runs along the south side of the building, also protruding beyond the outline of the walls, shielded by a suspended partition. Its rhythm is interrupted by three massive concrete forms, framing selected fragments of the landscape. Light enters from above, enlivening the interiors with a changing pattern of shadows that emphasise the austerity of the materials used and the reflections of the boards.
Cristián Nanzer’s design is limited to two basic materials. Natural stone and concrete, treated as manufactured stone, build the integrity of the entire complex. The clash between the weight and the apparent lightness of the upper storey is reinforced by daylight, which in places seems almost material. The striking structure thus takes on a changing expression, depending on the time of day and the angle of the rays. This economy of means does not lead to asceticism. On the contrary, it allows the viewer to focus on the proportions, the rhythm of the structure and the symbiosis of the building with its surroundings.
The architect treated the house on El Dragón Hill as an open form. Its interiors were designed in a way that allows for adaptation and individual use, without imposing any specific scenarios. The austerity of the finish favours this approach, and over time, the whole has taken on new meanings through the presence of the residents and their personal belongings, including works of art.
Design: CristiánNanzer
Photos: GonzaloViramonte
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