House in Escobar: A Minimalist Concrete Residence by Pedro Ignacio Yáñez + Guayra

The House in Escobar, designed by architects Pedro Ignacio Yáñez and Guayra, is a striking example of contemporary residential architecture in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Completed in 2022, the 190 m² home redefines suburban living through its minimalist structure, natural materials, and a design philosophy rooted in simplicity, openness, and lifestyle-centered comfort.

Located in a gated community in the northern region of Greater Buenos Aires, the project was commissioned by a client undergoing a major life shift after the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving away from a central apartment, the client sought a peaceful environment that combined privacy with the ability to host large social gatherings—an intimate retreat that could instantly transform into a vibrant social hub.

Design Concept: Living Between Intimacy and Social Life

Most homes in these neighborhoods maximize their buildable area, often resulting in two-story houses designed for large families. But this project had a unique requirement: it was designed for a single occupant. The architectural program was clean and minimal—

• A private suite,
• A study,
• A generous social area for gatherings,
• A gallery with a grill, and
• A swimming pool designed not just for leisure but for regular use.

The architects framed the home around two fundamental “scales of living.”

1. The Social Scale – a space that functions almost like a club, able to host groups of friends comfortably.
2. The Intimate Scale – a calm, personal retreat for everyday life.

Spatial Strategy: Dual Heights Under One Continuous Roof

To embody these two scales, the architects introduced two distinct interior heights while maintaining a single, flat, continuous roofline—a gesture that unifies the residence visually and conceptually.

• The social areas rise to 3.5 meters, offering openness, airflow, and flexibility.
• The private zone, including the bedroom, compresses to 2.6 meters for a sense of warmth and intimacy.

A small staircase bridges these levels, extending outward to form a terrace overlooking the lake. This multifunctional element becomes:

• A sunset-viewing platform,
• A natural extension of the home’s social areas,
• And the structural edge of the pool, whose access steps sit flush against it.

Materiality: A Minimal Palette With Maximum Impact

The architects aimed to resolve the entire program with the fewest possible elements and materials, creating a calm aesthetic and ensuring long-term durability.

Key Materials Used

• Exposed Concrete – shapes the structural platform and gives the home its sculptural identity.
• Kiri Wood – used for walls and ceilings, adding warmth and textural softness to the interior.
• Metal – forms the lightweight structure supporting the continuous roof.
• Glass – creates transparency, enhances natural light, and blurs the line between indoors and outdoors.
• Vertical Curtains – act as soft filters, providing privacy, shading, and gentle modulation of light.

This refined material palette produces a harmonious blend of organic and industrial tones, enhancing both the intimate and social dynamics of the home.

Lifestyle Architecture Rooted in Simplicity

House in Escobar reflects a post-pandemic shift in how individuals relate to their homes—seeking spaces that support both solitude and community. Instead of overbuilding, the architects designed a thoughtful, minimalist structure tailored to the occupant’s lifestyle. Every volume, height change, and material choice speaks to the core idea: a home should adapt seamlessly to both quiet living and joyful gatherings.

All the photographs are works of Pedro Ignacio Yáñez