Origami House is located in a small beach town on the Atlantic coast of South America, in Cariló, Argentina. Surrounded by native pine trees, the 350m2 house is placed in a 1500m2 piece of land.
The challenge was to achieve an eco-friendly house that could stand inside the forest with personality without modifying any trees or ground level.

The design of this home was inspired by origami: the art of transforming a flat square sheet of paper into a finished sculpture without the use of cuts, glue, or markings on the paper.
In that same way, the complex structure of this home was built in reinforced concrete that was extended from ceiling to floors to create triangular shaped walls and roofs that resemble as being perfectly “folded”. These shapes that seem to float on a solid and robust foundation, represented a big challenge in terms of structural calculations and feasibility. Building the suspended triangles present in the Origami House required the creation of specific handcrafted formworks

These walls act as a bioclimatic skin working as solar shields for the hot sun during summer and at the same time allow natural light be brought inside the house in a perfect balance. These same shields protect it from strong winds and rain during winter storms.
Moreover, the movement of the triangles across the building provide privacy to the front of the house and at the back, the angles and corners open up to the garden and merge with the natural flora.

Each opening in the concrete was meticulously studied to create cuts in the views that allow filtered and angular natural light in, creating changing patterns of light and shadow that transform the space during the day. The perspective from the angular windows offers dramatic views of the forest.

This serene and contemplative retreat reflects beauty and elegance. It does not need to show off as it naturally radiates sophistication through its character.