自建房丨阿根廷丨UNO MÁS UNO Arquitectos

Architects:UNO MÁS UNO Arquitectos

Area:750m²

Year:2023

Photographs:Luis Abba Estudio

Lead Architects:Nahuel Salcedo, Celeste Gómez Lahoz

Category:Preservation Site,Restoration

City:Los Compartos

Country:Argentina

Text description provided by the architects. In General Alvear, Mendoza, an old winery stands, whose origins date back to 1924, when its first tanks housed the wine of the Hidalgo family. However, in the late 1970s, after being abandoned, the passage of time and lack of care left the building practically in ruins. In 2015, four decades later, an heir of the family, endowed with artistic and cultural vision, acquired the structure with the purpose of transforming it into his atelier, personal museum, and exhibition hall.

This restoration project was conceived with two primary objectives. First, the aim was to preserve the intrinsic identity of the building, its original essence. This challenge was approached with what we have termed "project acupuncture," a practice that emphasizes precise and delicate interventions to address structural and constructive issues, and above all, to keep the morphology and communication of the work alive.

The new roof, for example, was conceived as an independent structure from the original, allowing them to coexist in harmony without diminishing the original character. The carefully executed cladding features clean and distinguishable lines between the old and the new, thus preserving the stylistic integrity of the construction.

The second objective focused on exploring light as an additional compositional element, capable of creating dramatic atmospheres in the different spaces. Existing openings were utilized, and new ones were created to enhance the identity of the building.

The result is a building that not only houses works of art but also becomes a work in itself. Openings were strategically perforated from the hallway into the interior of the tanks, inviting visitors to enter a space that is normally hidden. The tanks still retain aromatic vestiges of the stored wine, allowing art and fragrance to merge into a multisensory experience.

Additionally, the upper perforation of the tanks was transformed into a natural skylight, generating focused light that changes with the passing hours, providing spatial dynamism that interacts with the art and enriches the visitor's experience.

It is noteworthy that the restoration did not follow a conventional project development; rather, it was carried out simultaneously with the execution of the work. This immersive approach conditioned the actions to be studied and analyzed at different times of the day, ensuring a holistic reflection on the impact of the interventions on the original structure.

This restoration is an example of how architecture can revitalize heritage, preserve the essence of the past, and at the same time, bring life to new experiences and expressions, all while intervening carefully and respectfully with what exists. It reaffirms the role of the architect as a reflective agent on the construction and condition of space.

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