Argentinian architect Marcelo Del Torto has arranged a family home around a group of mature trees in a gated community in Buenos Aires Province (+ slideshow).

Marcelo Del Torto took into consideration the placement of several large trees on the plot when designing the 350-square-metre property, named San Carlos House.

He arranged two linear wings at right angles to each other to create an L-shaped building with garden pockets and courtyards shaded by the canopy of the trees.

The lounge, dining area, kitchen and a guest room are arranged in one block, while three bedrooms, corresponding bathrooms and an office are placed in the other.

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"The house is organised in two perpendicular spaces each, which in its interruption or phase shift generates different types of courts and galleries," he said.
The single-storey blocks have concrete slab roofs and bases, which are supported by metal columns hidden behind either plaster or lapacho wood walls.
Abundant sliding glazing is intended to help visually break up the structure, creating clear sight lines through the living spaces into the garden and courtyards.

"The space is presented as a game of pure horizontal and vertical planes," said Del Torto. "On the slab there are skylights ventilating and illuminating different situations, corridors bathrooms, services."

The kitchen and guest suite are set i...