House Ona Argentina – A Contemporary Rural Retreat by Juliana Mondinalli and Franco Palacios Beltran

House Ona Argentina, designed by Juliana Mondinalli and Franco Palacios Beltran, is a 64 m² home located in Villa Garibaldi, near La Plata. Completed in 2022, this modest yet expressive residence is a contemporary reinterpretation of rural architecture, blending everyday rituals with an eco-conscious design approach. The architects envisioned a refuge that celebrates rain, wind, and landscape, creating a home that interacts closely with its surroundings rather than imposing itself on the land.

Concept and Inspiration

House Ona emerged from a combination of personal memories, travels, and everyday experiences. It reflects the desire for simple pleasures: listening to rain on a metal roof, enjoying mate under a shaded porch, and watching moonlight from a window. Situated in the floodplain of the El Pescado Stream, the last unpolluted watercourse of the region, the house respects its ecological setting by minimizing land disturbance and preserving the natural drainage and air quality of the site.

Rural Typology and Architectural Language

The design draws inspiration from traditional ranches and the historic "chorizo" houses of Argentina, particularly the use of porches as transitional spaces. The "C"-shaped porch of House Ona shields the home from heavy rains and the intense summer sun, while the northeast porch opens to the wild garden, providing a serene threshold between interior and exterior living.

The form is defined by an asymmetrical gabled roof – one slope extends outward to form the protective porch, while the other rises to accommodate a mezzanine. While the exterior is intentionally austere, the interior is warm, bright, and flexible, organized around an open living area with kitchen and bathroom located in the southeast wing.

Materiality and Structure

Built primarily from red eucalyptus, the structure and interior finishes reflect a commitment to locally sourced, durable materials. The house is elevated on concrete pilings, rising 50 cm above ground level, which both reduces flood risk and protects the surrounding ecosystem. The use of phenolic wood panels enhances the tactile quality of the interiors, bringing warmth to the compact spaces.

A metal roof, chosen for its practicality and cultural symbolism, recalls the riverside homes of the delta regions of Berisso and Ensenada. During heavy rain, the sound of water transforms the house into an almost poetic vessel, like a floating raft connected to the natural cycles of its environment.

Landscape and Environment

Flux Estudio collaborated on the landscape design, ensuring that pre-existing vegetation, including bulrushes, grasses, and a black acacia, was preserved. Pathways and open spaces were strategically placed to enhance the experience of the surrounding landscape. The wild garden complements the house’s restrained design, reinforcing its dialogue with the natural terrain.

Construction and Community

The construction of House Ona was completed in just three months using local labor, which optimized resources and strengthened ties with the community. This collaborative approach ensured not only efficiency but also a sense of ownership and shared craftsmanship. The house was named "Ona" after the homeowners’ cat, who quickly made the space its own, symbolizing the house’s welcoming and adaptable nature.

Living Experience

With its compact footprint, House Ona offers a flexible living space where boundaries between inside and outside blur. A theater curtain is cleverly used to divide or open up the interior depending on the needs of daily life. The home emphasizes simplicity, connection to the elements, and the joy of everyday living, embodying a contemporary way of engaging with water, climate, and the landscape.

House Ona Argentina by Juliana Mondinalli and Franco Palacios Beltran is a thoughtful architectural response to both its environment and the rhythms of everyday life. Through its minimal impact construction, reinterpretation of rural forms, and celebration of rain and landscape, the house stands as a model for sustainable and emotionally resonant living.

All the photographs are works of Luis Barandiaran