Set within a residential fabric in Córdoba, Casa dos Muros is a project by SET Architects that positions architecture as a careful negotiation between site, structure, and daily life. The house is conceived around two pre-existing stone walls that define the lateral boundaries of the plot, and a mature algarrobo tree that anchors both the spatial organization and the character of the dwelling. Rather than treating these elements as constraints, the project uses them as generative devices, allowing architecture to grow from what was already present.
HOUSING
Toward the street, the house adopts a restrained and measured expression. Its façade avoids overt gestures, seeking continuity with the surrounding urban context instead of visual dominance. This discretion contrasts sharply with the rear of the property, where the house opens fully toward a patio and inner landscape. The shift from opacity to openness defines the project’s central spatial narrative, one that privileges inward experience over external display.
Topography plays a decisive role in shaping the house. The natural slope of the site enables an entrance from the upper level, setting up a descending sequence that unfolds gradually as one moves through the building. This progression anticipates the spatial logic inside, where circulation becomes a tool for orientation and perception rather than a purely functional necessity. Upon entry, a central space coinciding with the algarrobo tree acts as the organizing core of the house.
This core functions as an articulating system composed of patios, staircases, exposed structure, and visual connections. It establishes clear relationships between programs while maintaining a sense of continuity. Public and private zones are separated not by rigid boundaries but through shifts in level, light, and material atmosphere. The structural grid remains visible throughout, reinforcing clarity and legibility across the plan.
Casa dos Muros is organized across two levels with distinctly different characters. The upper floor accommodates the more intimate and everyday spaces of the home, defined by a warmer and quieter spatial tone. Bedrooms and private areas relate closely to light and vegetation, reinforcing a sense of retreat. In contrast, the lower level is conceived as a social platform, reflecting the clients’ active social life. Here, living, dining, and communal spaces merge into a continuous environment that extends seamlessly toward the exterior.
Material choices accentuate this distinction. The lower level adopts a darker, more rustic expression through the use of stone, exposed concrete, and metal, materials left in their natural state. These elements emphasize weight, texture, and permanence, while also strengthening the connection between interior and exterior. Spatial continuity is reinforced through minimal partitions and flexible boundaries, allowing rooms to expand or contract according to different modes of use.
Throughout the house, small patios are strategically inserted to introduce daylight and cross ventilation deep into the plan. These voids generate varied atmospheres and ensure environmental comfort while maintaining visual connections between spaces. Light and shadow become active components of the architecture, constantly reshaping how surfaces and volumes are perceived during the day.
Material honesty defines the project’s architectural language. There are no applied finishes or decorative layers; structure and construction elements remain exposed and perform both spatial and expressive roles. Stone, concrete, and metal work together without hierarchy, creating an austere yet tactile environment rooted in clarity and restraint.
Casa dos Muros proposes a form of domestic architecture that engages directly with its surroundings. Through its response to topography, vegetation, and existing boundaries, the house establishes a continuous spatial experience where movement, perception, and material presence shape daily life.
