Newbery Urban Homes by Dieguez Fridman
Newbery Urban Homes blends concrete, light, and greenery to create communal, terrace-filled residences that mirror Buenos Aires’ evolving urban lifestyle.
Bringing Neighborhood Atmosphere into Vertical Living
Nestled in the leafy residential neighborhood of Colegiales, Newbery Urban Homes by Dieguez Fridman redefines contemporary apartment living in Buenos Aires. The project captures the essence of a district in transition—where traditional houses coexist with a growing collection of cafes, design studios, and creative hubs—by extending the vibrancy of the streetscape into the architecture itself.
The architects envisioned the building as a continuation of the neighborhood’s promenade, designing open circulation spaces that bridge the street and each home. These semi-public corridors—filled with plants, light, and the play of shadow—create opportunities for spontaneous encounters among residents, fostering a subtle yet powerful sense of community.
Architectural Concept: Between Grid and Movement
Buenos Aires is characterized by its strict orthogonal grid overlaying a flat topography, a structure that often appears uniform at first glance. However, small deviations in this fabric—such as corners, dead ends, and green interruptions—create unique spatial experiences. Newbery Urban Homes is located precisely at one of these moments, where Delgado Street terminates at the site, opening up a rare, axial view down a tree-lined boulevard.
Rather than resisting the rigid grid, the architects embraced it as a framework for variation. The project capitalizes on this unusual perspective through large terraces and deep balconies, offering framed views of the surrounding canopy and extending domestic life outdoors.
Material Honesty and Light Expression
In keeping with the city’s architectural tradition, the building is constructed primarily in exposed concrete, poured over wooden formwork to retain the grain and texture of the boards. This tactile surface softens the material’s perceived heaviness, grounding it in both craftsmanship and authenticity.
Complementing the raw concrete, operable aluminum sunshades filter western sunlight and provide privacy from the street. Throughout the day, the shifting patterns of light and shadow transform the facades and interiors, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor realms. These rhythmic changes echo Henri Bergson’s notion that movement brings “indeterminacy inside matter,” embedding life within the architectural experience.
Living Between the Public and the Private
Buenos Aires’ mild climate enables residents to use balconies and terraces as extensions of living spaces throughout the year. In Newbery Urban Homes, these transitional zones act as thresholds between the intimate domestic interior and the public realm of the street. They serve not only as climatic filters but also as social interfaces—places to rest, gather, or simply observe the life of the city below.
