2022
MCHAP
Casona 1926
2.26 arquitectos
Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
December 2023
AUTOR PRINCIPAL
Tristan Bondone (project and technical direction), Luciano Femopase (project and technical direction)
AUTOR CONTRIBUYENTE
Catalina Zeverin (team member)
CLIENTE
Pablo Maslub
FOTÓGRAFO
Javier Agustin Rojas
OBJETIVO
The primary need that motivated the commission of the project was to restore the habitable conditions of a property severely deteriorated. To address this task, a comprehensive evaluation of structural conditions, installations, among other aspects, was carried out. Subsequently, an analysis of the existing typology and possibilities for reformulation was initiated.
The original configuration of the project comprises three distinct uses: a main house on the upper floor, a commercial space on the ground floor, and six units in line with intermediate courtyards that extended along the 50 meters of the property. The main house was transformed into a shared workspace, and modifications were made to the units in line, increasing their number from 6 to 8, varying their configuration and size.
To achieve these transformations, various architectural interventions were carried out. Vertically, slabs were pierced to create triple-height units, and mezzanines were added taking advantage of the generous original height of the spaces (4.50 meters). Additionally, walls were removed to integrate spaces and redefine the new units.
CONTEXTO
The city of Córdoba, like many other large metropolises in South America, faces one of the characteristic challenges: the expansive growth of its urban sprawl, which currently reaches approximately 24 km in diameter. This phenomenon persists despite the low population density of the city and the significant presence of renewal areas near the urban center.
The origin of this expansion can be partly traced to the successive economic crises that have affected the region, leading to the breakdown of the social fabric. This phenomenon has fostered the proliferation of gated communities with private security, away from the central core of the city. This trend has brought about a series of problems, including the need to extend the networks of all services over considerable distances, as well as a significant increase in the use of vehicles for long-distance travel. Additionally, it has resulted in the degradation of the surrounding natural environments with the emergence of these new developments.
The project begins with an analysis that seeks to explore the possibilities of recovering a privately-owned building dating back to 1926, currently in a state of abandonment. This building is strategically located in the city center, close to universities, cultural areas, and commercial areas. The initiative to revitalize this historic structure not only aims to contribute to the preservation of architectural heritage but also to promote the revitalization of the central area, partially counteracting the expansive and decentralizing trend that has characterized recent urban development.
ACTUACIÓN
This proposal was conceived with the aim of transforming the complex into an attractive space for living and working through typological diversity, allowing adaptability to different uses, and promoting the permanence in the central area for the city's residents. The validity of this hypothesis was immediately confirmed upon completion of the work, as it was mainly occupied by young people. The initial users include a business office, a group of designers and architects, as well as a political organization, along with individuals or couples using it as their private residence.
The proximity to the city center has stimulated the use of alternative vehicles by the occupants, such as electric scooters and bicycles. Regarding the facade, its original historical character has been preserved, with only necessary structural repairs carried out. Regarding materiality, the focus has been on the recovery of various original materials, such as pine wood floors and granite, wooden openings, and the restoration of deteriorated walls. Contemporary intervention is manifested through design and materiality, incorporating modern elements such as the use of metal in mezzanines, railings, stairs, and new openings, highlighting the coexistence between the new and the pre-existing while also providing new qualities to the space. The choice of white color was made to provide brightness to the ensemble.
