House In The Andes Wrapped In A Rusty Metal Shell
Every house is built in relation to its surroundings and the impact it has on the landscape. This raises a set of unique challenges in every case. When the Evans House was built, the focus was on creating a smooth dialogue between the residence and its surroundings.
The house was built in 2014 by A4estudio, an architecture firm with diverse interests which treats every project as an intellectual process in relation with its contemporary dynamics and its impact on the landscape. The company also offers special attention to sustainable projects, this one being no different.
The Evans House is located in Tunuyan, Mendoza, in Argentina. It’s surrounded by vineyards and by the Andes Mountains. It was designed as a compact volume which sits on a basement structure, rising over the vegetation line in order to capture views of the valley and the mountains.
The facades are covered with rusty metal sheets and this allows the house to establish a dialogue with the landscape, in particular with the vineyards surrounding it. The basement level was built using local river stones.
Their colors and textures mimic the arid landscape surrounding the house. This contrast of materials, colors and textures between the ground level and the cantilevered structure on top of it was meant to capture the diversity of the surroundings and the views, allowing the house to capture the spirit of it natural background and to become a part of it.
The interior is wrapped in wood of various colors forming random patterns and a dynamic décor throughout. The wood allows the interior spaces to feel warm and inviting while at the same time offering a subtle hint of rustic beauty consistent with the surroundings.
The windows and openings are focused on views of the west and east. The basement level which can be distinguished by its stone facade contains the wine cellar as well as a few other spaces. On top of it are the social areas.
The kitchen, dining and living spaces share an open plan. They are designed with lots of wood and using simple and earthy colors such as brown, gray and beige. The simplicity of the interior décor is complemented by the astonishing views of the Andes mountains and the valley.
The bedroom is a semi-private space sharing similar characteristics with the rest of the house. The various wood patterns on the walls, floor and ceiling give it a dynamic and unique look, toned down by other simplistic details such as the black built-in wall unit or the nightstands.
The upper level opens onto a terrace and a lap pool. From up here, the views are even more impressive, overwhelming even.