Casa CMMY by Estudio Galera – Contemporary Architecture in the Forests of Pinamar, Argentina

Designed by Estudio Galera, Casa CMMY is a striking residential project in Pinamar, Argentina, completed in 2022. Spanning 275 m², the house blends architectural precision with natural harmony, standing as both a sculptural object in the forest and a flexible home that adapts to contemporary living needs.

From the outside, Casa CMMY presents itself as a geometric single-volume structure with recesses, folds, and clean lines that evoke the archetype of a gabled house in the woods. Yet, inside, the typology dissolves into a fluid spatial organization where air, void, and light become the central connectors. The design revolves around a triple-height central atrium, a vertical courtyard where all main rooms converge, establishing a sense of openness, community, and circulation.

Built on cylindrical concrete pylons, the residence gently hovers over the natural slope of the terrain, ensuring minimal impact on the landscape. This elevated platform, combined with surrounding vegetation, creates a natural privacy filter between the house and the street.

One of the home’s most distinctive features is its staircase. Far from being a simple connector, it becomes an architectural gesture that cuts through air and light, linking the first floor with a balcony and eventually leading to the attic level. This upper space is envisioned as a future studio and cultural retreat, housing books, vinyls, and a work area—blurring the boundaries between domestic life and creativity.

Casa CMMY also integrates sustainable and climate-responsive strategies. A west-facing winter garden serves as a passive thermal device, conserving warmth during colder months while shielding the interior from summer heat. Combined with a multi-layered insulating envelope, the house ensures energy efficiency and year-round comfort.

The construction emphasizes local craftsmanship and natural materials. Concrete was manually prepared, pine beams were combined with a metal framework, and each roof and wall panel was meticulously assembled by hand. This artisanal approach results in a hybrid structural system—a cold, rigorous geometric shell that shelters a warm, adaptable interior.

Ultimately, Casa CMMY embodies a dual identity: a modernist, rational exterior contrasted with an inviting, flexible interior that adapts to evolving lifestyles. The house is at once a protective container against natural forces and a light-filled, communal sanctuary where architecture, structure, and environment coexist in balance.

All Photographs are works of Diego Medina