TEXT

As an addition to the “View House” on the outskirts of Rosario, a swimming pool and a new quincho were commissioned as complements to weekend domestic life. Both new constructions were conceived as part of a three-part ensemble, where each element is placed as far apart as possible from the others.

The construction was carried out in two phases: first the pool, and then the quincho. This made it possible to limit the work areas during both stages and minimize interference with the use of the house and the rest of the site.

Faced with an existing house of strong character, the two additions continue the material language of the whole (exposed concrete), but adopt formal approaches that contrast through their simplicity and minimalism.

The pool is perceived as an isolated object that rests heavily on the ground. Its form takes on the same basic elliptical geometry as the house and suppresses any frontal or rear hierarchy. By elevating its height and accessing it via a stair with a door, the construction avoids the need for the safety fencing required by local regulations for open pools—or their lots.

Viewed up close and from within, the swimmer notices that the water fully fills the form to its edge, dematerializing the mass and transforming it into pure reflection, giving it a more abstract and boundless quality.

At times, the water overflows the volume and trickles down the concrete wall, from where it is collected at the base and filtered through an underground system.

Within a broader contextual reading, the pool also relates to the classic Australian water tanks found in the Argentine countryside.

The quincho is located at the opposite corner of the site, across from the pool, establishing a visual relationship between the two.

From the entrance, the main volume of the quincho appears small. It is a parallelepiped that presents its shorter side toward the front. Two additional volumes rest upon it, responding to the typical demand for a gallery and a chimney for the grill in Argentine quinchos.

In contrast to the house, the interior space is somewhat more rustic and warm, fully clad in wood, which also resolves the built-in furniture.

Facing east, and aligned with the full length of the gallery, a large window opens up and can be fully retracted on summer days, connecting the interior space with the semi-covered area, the open greenery, and the new pool beyond.

PHOTOS

Javier Agustín Rojas