In my starving architecture student days, I worked out that dressing in black was the best way to stretch my hard-earned summer dollars. Cheap clothes invariably looked not so cheap, everything matched, and the added bonus? I managed to pull off a nonchalant elegance (or at least I thought I did). Architecture firm Estudio BaBO shows us it’s no different when it comes to choosing a palette for a house in Patagonia.
Hired by town planners to design high-density housing without an urban feel, Estudio BaBO architects worked within a strict set of planning guidelines that dictated materials, use of color in exterior, and the angles of the roof. By staggering the three individual houses, the architects ensured that each unit enjoys the same level of natural light and garden privacy. The coup de grâce was to clad the wooden houses in black-stained cypress, giving the houses an imposing unified presence. Row housing never looked so good.
Images via Dezeen.
Above: The architects aimed to replicate the effect of the traditional houses in the area, which are painted black.
Above: From window frames to walls, the houses are all built out of wood, except the roof, which is metal.
Above: The architects, who spent time working and living in Norway, are familiar with all-wood construction.
Above: A natural finish cypress is used on the interior trims and stairs.
Above: The angles of the roof required by the planners allow equal access to light.
Above: Upstairs, bedrooms and bathroom sit beneath the slanted ceilings required by the planners. They are lined with with particle board.
Above: Each house has a private garden.
Above: The black-painted cypress wraps around the three houses uniting them into one structure.
Above: An axonometric drawing illustrates the staggered massing of the three houses.
N.B. It's no secret that we're obsessed with black houses. Want to see more? See 10 Modern Houses Gone to the Dark Side.