A striking contemporary residence designed by Barella Arquitectura has been completed in Córdoba, Argentina, showcasing innovative architectural solutions for post-pandemic family living. House G&S, spanning 448 square meters, represents a thoughtful response to changing lifestyle needs as families reassess their living environments in the wake of global upheaval.
The project emerged from the specific needs of a family who made the significant decision to relocate from their apartment in Buenos Aires to Córdoba during the pandemic. This migration pattern reflects a broader trend of urban dwellers seeking more spacious and flexible living arrangements outside major metropolitan areas. The architects, led by Marcelo José Barella, Inés Barella, and Leandro Sosa, designed the residence to accommodate this lifestyle transition with careful attention to both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Situated on a generous 1,500-square-meter lot within a gated community in the southwest sector of Córdoba, the house takes full advantage of its suburban setting. The site presents a gentle negative slope and benefits from a north-facing orientation, allowing the architects to optimize natural light exposure and create strategic views throughout the property. This positioning demonstrates the design team's understanding of local climatic conditions and their commitment to passive environmental strategies.
The architectural concept revolves around a clear functional distribution that manifests itself through the building's volumetric composition. The residence is organized into three distinct blocks, each serving specific programmatic needs while maintaining visual and spatial coherence. One block houses essential service functions, another accommodates social and communal areas, and the third contains private family spaces. This tripartite organization allows for both separation and integration of different household activities.
These three functional blocks are arranged in a distinctive U-shaped configuration that creates and defines a central courtyard space. This courtyard serves as the primary entry sequence, providing visitors with an immediate understanding of the home's organizational logic while creating a sense of arrival and transition from public to private realms. The courtyard design also facilitates natural ventilation and brings daylight deep into the interior spaces.
The design team included technical expertise from María Agustina Sánchez and Sofía Rodeyro, while structural engineering was provided by Gustavo González and Gabriela Asís Ferri. Landscape architecture elements were developed by Sofía Corazza and Héctor Tarifa, ensuring that the building's relationship with its natural surroundings was carefully considered. The interior design was handled by Barella Arquitectura, maintaining design consistency throughout all aspects of the project.
Material selection and construction techniques reflect both local building traditions and contemporary architectural sensibilities. The project incorporates high-quality materials and systems from regional suppliers, including aluminum work by Aluminios del Interior, structural elements from Ferrocons, specialized installations by Feyro, lighting design by Maestre Iluminación, and climate control systems by Nanzer Climatización Integral.
Completed in 2025, House G&S represents a significant contribution to contemporary residential architecture in Argentina's interior regions. The project demonstrates how thoughtful design can address the evolving needs of modern families while respecting local environmental conditions and building traditions. Through its innovative spatial organization and material palette, the residence offers a compelling model for suburban living that balances privacy with community engagement and individual needs with family cohesion.
