Case Study 03

Country House + Equestrian Complex

Master Planning: Managing Complexity in Physical and Digital Spaces

Challenge: The project is sited on a 175-hectare rural estate within the locality of Punta Indio, Buenos Aires. For this large-scale equestrian and residential development, the project demanded a master plan that harmonized complex functional requirements with high-end aesthetic values.

Project Synthesis and Axis System

The project is structured by a simple gesture: a primary X-axis that brings order to the entire complex. This axis defines the alignment, internal sequence, and choreography of the spaces. It serves as the foundational structure supporting all functional activities.

Two orthogonal Y-axes branch off from this main route, serving not as minor adjuncts but as natural extensions of the system. One facilitates connection to the quincho (barbecue pavilion) and the most active outdoor areas. The other opens towards the equestrian complex, directly linking the residence with the stables, tracks, and equine work zones. These branches allow diverse uses to coexist without conflict, maintaining a clear logic between domestic life and ranch activity.

The points of intersection between these axes generate the project's nodes. These are spatial moments defined by a shift in scale, a transition from intimate to open, or a concentration of activity. Far from mere crossings, they mark rhythms and pauses within the architectural experience.

The proposal is derived from a simple, elongated volume with a gable roof, maintaining a rural architectural vernacular while unifying the whole. This initial volume ensures the axis system reads clearly, allowing each use to find its place without complicating the overall organization.

Structural Organization

The primary structure utilizes wooden trusses spaced at 7-meter intervals, creating wide spans and a flexible internal layout without rigid partitions, thereby favoring visual continuity between environments.

These trusses rest on composite columns, featuring a cross-shaped steel profile "embraced" by four 6"x6" timber pieces. This combination integrates the warmth of wood with the stability of steel, resulting in a system that is robust yet light, expressive, and coherent with the project's rural identity.

General Functional Organization

The Main House combines spacious social areas with intimate quarters. Access is provided through a main hall that dictates the distribution and marks the entry to the social zone. From here, one enters the living and dining rooms, designed to accommodate large groups, featuring the fireplace as the centerpiece of the space.

The daily living zone consolidates the kitchen, informal dining, laundry, and services, maintaining a direct connection to the outdoors and support areas. Family or guest suites are distributed independently for privacy, while the master suite is positioned with the terrain's best orientation, offering expansive views and seclusion.

The main living-dining area connects seamlessly to the solarium and pool sector, which functions as a "second social heart." These are relaxed spaces, linked to the farm's open horizon and usable year-round.

The program is completed by four secondary dwellings:

• Two Guest Houses, located near the main residence but possessing autonomy.

• A Staff (Caseros) House, located next to the service access.

• A Stabler's (Peticero) Dwelling, directly linked to the equestrian sector.

The equestrian complex consolidates studs, stables, tack rooms, a dressage arena, and a jumping track. It is organized so that trailers and internal maneuvers do not interfere with residential access. Facing the tracks, an Equestrian Club is incorporated as a space for socializing and observation. This allows guests, trainers, and prospective buyers to view training sessions without interfering with the technical operations. It includes lounge areas, galleries, and services, becoming a comfortable focal point within the equestrian activity.

Circulation and Connection Logic

The primary circulation within the house is simple and linear, connecting the entrance to the social area and, subsequently, to the private zones. Secondary circulations organize the services and resolve the relationship with the exterior without disrupting daily use spaces.

At the estate scale, operations are organized via three independent accesses:

1. Main Entry: leads to the Main House and quincho.

2. Service Entry: leads to secondary dwellings, maintenance, and supplies.

3. Equestrian Entry: leads to studs, dressage, track, and the Equestrian Club, designed for trailers and large vehicles.

This scheme effectively separates activities, avoiding conflicts between residential, technical, and operational movements—a crucial factor in a rural estate of this size.