In the coastal city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, a remarkable residential project challenges conventional notions of how homes should interact with their natural surroundings. Designed by TAM Arquitectura, this 2,949-square-foot residence features a distinctive dual-level design: most of the living spaces are nestled beneath a swooping green roof that virtually disappears into the landscape, while a sleek glass box hovers above, creating a striking architectural contrast that has drawn comparisons to everything from spy lairs to hobbit houses.

The design philosophy behind this unique home centers on the concept of preserving and enhancing an existing void in the landscape. As the architects explain, "A void in the landscape already existed, shaped by the land's natural undulations and the trees that defined its boundaries." Rather than imposing a structure that would disrupt this natural space, the team chose to work with the terrain's existing contours. They laid a wavy concrete mantle that blends seamlessly with the ground, covering it with vegetation so that the majority of the home's program lies hidden beneath this green surface. This approach makes the building's mass virtually disappear, preventing any negative impact on the existing landscape or urban environment.

The underground portion of the home features an ingenious open-plan design centered around a private courtyard that serves as the heart of the residence. This central void provides natural light and ventilation to the subterranean spaces while remaining completely sheltered from street views, creating an intimate sanctuary within the home. Beyond this courtyard, the architects strategically positioned a fluid wooden volume beneath the concrete mantle, which defines and organizes all the home's functions through its relationship with the structure's edges. This wooden element effectively separates the public areas from private spaces, creating a logical flow throughout the underground level.

Above ground, the home's most dramatic feature takes center stage: a reflective glass box that appears to float in the void above the green roof. This striking element functions as a completely self-contained guesthouse, equipped with a living and dining area, bedroom, bathroom, and compact kitchen. The positioning of this glass pavilion offers residents and guests an entirely different perspective of the property, placing them among the tree canopies for a unique elevated experience. The architects describe this element as "a form that interacts with and multiplies nature," emphasizing how its reflective surfaces capture and reflect the surrounding vegetation.

The green terrace that crowns the underground portion serves multiple purposes beyond mere aesthetics. It protects the lower level from the elements while restoring the occupied surface area and transforming it into a natural space that contributes to the local ecosystem. This living roof effectively returns the footprint of the building back to nature, ensuring that the home's environmental impact is minimized. The careful placement of both the green mantle and the reflective glass box works together to frame the natural void, preserving spatial continuity from the street level all the way through to the property's green core.

The project team included builder and structural engineer Juan Pablo Sammartano Viñuelas, who brought the architects' ambitious vision to life, and landscape designer Nicolas Antoniucci, who ensured the integration between the built and natural environments was seamless. Photography by Jonathan Paz and Obra Linda captures the home's unique relationship with its surroundings, showcasing how the structure creates what the architects call "a spatial promenade with dynamic tensions leading to a central access point atop the mantle."

The philosophical approach behind this design goes beyond mere architectural innovation. According to the architects, "Volumes do not exist for their own sake; they define the void. They create an unoccupied space where mass disappears." This concept treats the void not as an absence but as the organizing force that gives meaning to the entire spatial arrangement. The result is a home that actively carves out hollowed spaces within nature, creating what they describe as "actively unoccupied space through the fusion of interdependent volumes" – a residence that enhances rather than diminishes its natural setting.