cabin 192's brick volume upholds glazed box in buenos aires

Daniel Canda’s Cabin 192 repurposes existing house in Buenos Aires

Cabin 192, a project by architect Daniel Canda, unfolds in a low-density suburban setting of Buenos Aires, Argentina, characterized by uniform architecture and abundant vegetation. Faced with the choice of either transforming an existing suburban house or constructing a new one, an ethical consideration takes precedence over economic factors. Canda opts to repurpose an existing frame, focusing on selecting a basic structure to allow flexibility in programmatic adjustments.

The chosen house presents a simple composition—a brick volume with a gable roof, featuring a 9 x 9 square geometric plan and two detached service bodies. The design maintains the wall box as a spatial container, replacing all interior walls on the ground floor with a central concrete volume. This alteration liberates the floor plan, enabling a seamless spatial flow, a key project objective.

all images by Albano García

interior organization prioritizes open and flexible living layout

To expand the upper floor’s surface area, the gable roof is replaced with a flat roof supported by a lightweight metal structure. This modification facilitates the configuration of additional bedrooms and a bathroom, addressing the program’s needs. For the interior organization, architect Daniel Canda prioritizes open and flexible layouts, with the lower floor hosting a central concrete core housing a toilet, around which four subspaces—kitchen, dining room, home, and living room—are arranged. On the upper floor, a central structural corridor contains the staircase and bathrooms, while floor-to-ceiling furniture defines the rooms on both sides, allowing quick layout changes.

cabin 192 unfolds in the suburban setting of Buenos Aires, Argentina

transparent glazed box sits atop exposed brick volume

The main volume is differentiated using a stone covering that mirrors the dimensions of the exposed brick, while a transparent glazed box rises above it. Support volumes, both in exposed brick, adhere to a gray palette for chromatic cohesion. The interior spaces aim for fluidity, simplicity, and minimalism, incorporating noble materials like wood and concrete. From a construction perspective, a double skin with a ventilated interior air chamber is implemented to achieve thermal efficiency while preserving the original wall box’s thickness. The exterior features tempered glass with solar treatment, maintaining transparency and expansive views while ensuring thermal and solar protection.

architect Daniel Canda opts for repurposing an existing suburban house, prioritizing flexibility in programming