Lerma House: Contemporary Renovation by BHY Arquitectos in Villa Crespo

The Lerma House renovation by BHY Arquitectos in Villa Crespo, Argentina, is a striking example of how mid-20th century residences can be adapted for modern living. Completed in 2022, this 210 m² project reinterprets traditional domestic spaces, creating a seamless dialogue between history, functionality, and contemporary design.

Reversing Compartmentalization for Modern Living

The original house suffered from excessive compartmentalization, which limited natural light and spatial fluidity. The architects tackled this by opening up the ground floor, allowing rooms to flow into one another and establishing a stronger connection to the garden. This transformation not only enhanced cross-ventilation and daylight penetration but also introduced a new sense of openness that reflects contemporary lifestyles.

A Unified Material Palette and Flexible Design

A central design strategy was the unification of materials throughout the house. The use of continuous flooring across the ground level creates visual harmony, while movable wooden partitions introduce flexibility. These partitions conceal storage and installations when closed, yet can be repositioned to adapt the layout to different family needs. This subtle interplay between permanence and flexibility reinforces the house’s multifunctional potential.

Rooftop Expansion with Respectful Contrast

To further extend the home, BHY Arquitectos transformed the rooftop into a shared family space. The new volume respects the proportions of the existing cornice while introducing a modern touch through reinforced concrete slabs and inverted exposed beams. This construction choice simplified the building process while generating a delicate balance between preservation and contemporary intervention. The result is a design that honors the house’s heritage yet confidently projects it into the future.

A Contemporary Dialogue with Heritage

The Lerma House renovation exemplifies how thoughtful architectural intervention can breathe new life into aging structures. By blending technical upgrades with spatial reconfiguration and material consistency, BHY Arquitectos successfully created a home that is both timeless and adaptable. This project highlights how renovation can serve as a bridge between past and present, enhancing the quality of life while maintaining architectural integrity.

All Photographs are works of  Bruto Studio