Estudio BaBO was confronted with an extensive set of planning regulations when they were commissioned to design the CFL Houses in Patagonia. First, the local government wants all new residential construction to be done in rows, and they ought to be constructed using only timber. But Patagonia is not so well versed in timber construction, plus the buildings had to be seismically-safe and protected against heavy rain. So the Research Institute of Construction in Noway was brought on board to help create a set of efficient wooden homes with striking black facades.
It is not immediately evident, but the CFL houses are three in one. Painting them black helped to give them the “monolithic structure” that the design team sought, while a series of clever interventions ensure that there is still sufficient daylighting, privacy and natural ventilation. All of the timber you see is Cypress: the cladding, the interior flooring, the skirting, as well as all of the door and window frames.
Since Patagonia receives more rain than Norway but not as much snow, a few adjustments were made to the typically Norwegian-style of building. Yet, there are a lot of similarities, including a fantastic use of space that allows for both patios and garages for each unit. Finally, Radiant floor heating and double-glazed windows guarantee their energy efficiency. This is a giant leap forward for Argentina, and we love it.
Via Dezeen
