50.50 House Embraces the Argentine Environment

This small, simple home can be found in rural Agentina. The house is set in the midst of wetlands in the region of Santo Tomé; a “biologically diverse” area that the architects sought to reflect through their design.

The project, dubbed 50.50 House, was completed in 2015 with the help of local architecture firm, Célula.Urbana.

The house garnered its name from from its size – it occupies 538-square-feet (50-square-meters) of land, with another 538-square-foot dedicated to the semi-covered outdoor area. Its appearance takes on a lightweight structure, with the roof almost floating thanks to the large amount of glazing.

The interior echoes the exterior’s simplicity. The wall are lined with either windows, or brick. A wooden floor has been laid in the living area, with tile being used for the bathroom and kitchen. Wood also lines the ceiling, both inside and out, helping to reduce the barrier between the two environments.

From the architects: “House 50.50 is constituted as a cover broken surface, that comes off of the walls offering significant amounts of light, air and green. Taking advantage of the optimal position that the land provides, efficient flush ceiling cross ventilation that airs out spaces just in seconds after they were opened, is achieved.”

Just as much space has been dedicated to the exterior of 50.50 House, emphasizing the importance of the outdoor areas. The aim was to help integrate the home into the environment, and provide plenty of opportunities for the occupants to experience their natural surroundings.

From the architect: “This partially covered space is the space that allows welfare and comfort of the whole, it is the dimension where the arrival occurs, the first contact, cherishing the perimeter and giving planes of shadow as well as visual sharpness to the landscape. The house is Gallery, as well as the gallery is the house.”

For more small houses check out The Surrounding Space, a Lithuanian home that mixes comfort and contemporary design. Or, the Morning Dew Guesthouse from South Korea, which is capable of accommodating up to 24 visitors at a time. See all small houses.

Photos © Ramiro Sosa