A former single-family home from the 1950s in Resistencia, Argentina, has been transformed into an innovative live-work community that houses five friends across four compact apartments and two professional workspaces. The project, called Las Casitas, represents a new model for affordable urban living that prioritizes community connection while maintaining individual privacy.
The transformation was spearheaded by three architects - Daiana Katz, Nahuel Zampayo, and Agostina Vacca Arreseygor - who founded their architecture studio Este Norte as part of this ambitious renovation. Katz had been living on the property, which her parents own, when the idea emerged to reimagine the space as a revenue-generating live-work community that would eliminate commuting and foster close-knit relationships among residents.
The redesigned property features distinctive white corrugated plastic walls that signal the intervention from the street. A stone-framed entry leads to a central corridor, where terra-cotta breeze-block walls running the full depth of the lot create semi-private courtyards around each unit. These courtyards serve multiple functions, providing space for residents to store bicycles, hang laundry, and cultivate plants while also creating opportunities for spontaneous social interactions.
The six-unit complex totals 2,390 square feet of interior space across the long rectangular lot, utilizing about half of the total property. The original home's smaller rooms were converted into commercial spaces, while the more generous areas became living units. Katz remains in her original space at the front of the property, followed by Este Norte's office, then a hair salon rented by a stylist who also occupies one of the rear apartments. Zampayo and Arreseygor, who are partners both professionally and personally, live in the unit adjacent to the salon, while a graphic designer rents the final apartment.
The renovation carefully preserved the building's structural bones while making strategic modifications to maximize accessibility, natural light, and ventilation - crucial considerations for the subtropical climate and mild winters characteristic of Argentina's Chaco province. Part of the original structure was demolished to create a central patio that brings essential ventilation to the rear units and enhances the sense of community.
Innovative design elements throughout the complex reflect both environmental consciousness and budget constraints. All six units feature 6.5-foot square doors made of semi-translucent corrugated plastic set on sliding tracks, allowing for cross-ventilation and flexible privacy options. The same paneling material is used for interior walls, creating an open, light-filled atmosphere throughout the units. Broken bricks salvaged from the demolition were mixed with concrete and repurposed for the external corridor flooring, built-in bookcases, and bathroom storage units.
The architects incorporated awning windows throughout the complex that provide natural light and airflow without compromising privacy. When the sliding doors are fully closed, light still penetrates through the translucent plastic panels. The doors can also be positioned to crack open awning sections for additional ventilation, or opened completely to maximize light and air while encouraging interaction with neighbors.
According to Katz, community building was central to the design philosophy from the beginning. The project includes a small bench on the sidewalk - "the kind of place where we all usually have some sort of sidewalk moment," she explains. "Where we sit to have a drink with a friend, and where we run into each other - or another neighbor pops by." This attention to social spaces reflects the architects' belief that communal living can help address generational stress and urban isolation.
The environmental design responds thoughtfully to local conditions. A canopy of native plants provides shade along the corridor connecting the units, mitigating sun exposure during hot weather. The strategic placement of patios and courtyards creates natural ventilation patterns that reduce reliance on mechanical cooling systems.
Each residential unit maximizes space efficiency through custom built-in storage solutions. Katz's 300-square-foot apartment features plywood built-ins at the entry and kitchen area, with a recessed ceiling that brings additional natural light into the dining space. The rear apartments utilize planted areas to create visual separation between zones without completely closing off spaces, maintaining the project's emphasis on openness and connection.
Zampayo emphasizes the broader social implications of their experiment in communal living. "These agreements and shared spaces, where we inevitably have to make decisions collectively, work as an exercise in social coexistence," he notes. "We practice it within our small community, but it also gives us tools to think about how to inhabit larger spaces and how to engage with public space."
Arreseygor views the project as embodying their vision for urban society. "This project sums up the ideas we have - or would like to promote - about the city and about society," she explains. "We wanted to maintain a relationship with nature, as well as closeness with our neighbors, which works as a safety and support system in case anything happens."
The Las Casitas project demonstrates how thoughtful renovation can create affordable housing solutions while fostering community connections in urban environments. By balancing individual privacy with shared spaces and collective decision-making, the architects have created a model that addresses both practical housing needs and broader social goals. The success of this live-work community suggests potential applications for similar projects in other urban contexts facing housing affordability challenges.
