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Nestled tightly between a number of larger blocks in inner city Buenos Aires and measuring exactly 7m x 7m x 7m, the aptly named Casa Cubo (cube house) is home to owner/architects Matias Michatek and Torunn Vaksvik Skarstad of Arqs. MichatekSkarstad who designed and renovated the home themselves. Originally a typical PH (propiedad horizontal or horizontal property) style layout commonly found in Buenos Aires and structured around an atrium, the couple set out to create their own take on the style, prioritizing outdoor living and the areas they would use most. Adding 2.5 storeys to the property, a half floor for a home office and a second floor for a large custom built wooden kitchen with dining space that opens onto an outdoor terrace via a set of glass panel doors that run the length of the back wall. A multifunctional metal staircase structure that blends seamlessly into the wall connects the storeys and contains the bathroom, laundry, powder room and plenty of storage, creating a clean, simplistic and highly functional small home.

#tinyhouse #architecture #interiordesign

Project Name: Casa Cubo
Architect: https://www.instagram.com/casacubito

Produced by New Mac Video Agency
Creator: Colin Chee
Director: Nam Tran
Cinematographer: Fernando Schapochnik
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Editor: Jessica Ruasol
Music: Moonlight, Cold Sugar & Thread the Needle by Sun Wash
Transcript
00:03The house is located in Parque Chacabuco in the inner city capital of Buenos Aires.
00:10We really love the concept of the atrium home and wanted to create our own take on this.
00:18The house was built for us, by us.
00:21Both of us come from places with very cold climates,
00:25so we really enjoy the outdoor living culture here.
00:34The neighbourhood is pretty classic as far as residential areas in Buenos Aires goes.
00:42The street, like most streets in the city, is lined with beautiful platino trees
00:47which provide a really nice shade in the summer months.
00:52This house was originally part of a bigger property
00:56which was separated in the 1940s to make a small apartment for a family member.
01:02It was later sold as a separate property and it has remained the same today.
01:09We lived in the original structure for about 15 months before starting the renovation.
01:17The apartment was completely oriented towards the central patio.
01:22All the rooms were accessed through the patio with no connection between each other.
01:27The floor plan has been almost completely changed.
01:32We added another half floor in between for our office,
01:36and another floor for our kitchen and dining rooms.
01:42From the street, you enter via the communal corridor.
01:46Through a sliding metal door, you enter an outdoor patio,
01:50then track to the house itself.
01:53The patio has a built-in bench nook.
01:56The drawers underneath can store our tools and gardening equipment.
02:00The floor and the bench are made from a local travertine sourced from a quarry in the province of San
02:06Juan.
02:08From the patio, you enter directly into the living room.
02:13We refurbish the original floors.
02:15They are made from calden wood, which is local to Argentina and South America.
02:22There are two custom-made storage units from the TV and books,
02:26a locally designed sofa and a rack with some large cushions on the floor.
02:32Just top of the living room is the small bedroom.
02:35Above the patio bench, there is a great deal of storage space.
02:40The patio bench also has drawers that provide additional storage space for our clothes.
02:46The bed and the wardrobe are nestled under a low 2.1-meter ceiling.
02:52We added a small niche in the wall which we use as our bedside table for books and phones.
02:59The staircase is among the functional metal box containing several rooms.
03:04We choose this material because it is very light and takes up very little space structurally.
03:11Under one side of the stair is a hidden bathroom.
03:15The bathroom is a long and narrow space with just enough room for a vanity, toilet and a comfortable sized
03:22shower.
03:24At the entrance to the bathroom, there is a laundry niche with a space for a washing machine.
03:31Under the other side of the stair is a small powder room with a vanity and a toilet for guests.
03:39Just off the landing of the first set of stairs is a small office.
03:44The floor and one of the walls are made from the same metal material as the staircase which allows us
03:51to hang things using magnets.
03:55The big window fills an entire end of the office and provides lots of natural light and ventilation.
04:05The upper level is dedicated to a spacious kitchen, a dining area and an outdoor terrace.
04:12The upper story has a band of windows running the complete length of both the walls.
04:18The kitchen cabinets are made from Guatambu plywood which is a native tree to South America and custom designed by
04:26us.
04:28Behind the doors of the floor to ceiling part of the kitchen is a full sized fridge, a utility closet
04:35and an AC unit.
04:37Around the corner is a large sink with a dishwasher underneath and lots of storage.
04:44The dining room table is made of the same Guatambu plywood and the floors have the same travertine stone as
04:52the entryway patio and terrace.
04:55The whole back wall is made of floor to ceiling sliding glass panels which allow indoor space to connect with
05:02the terrace outside.
05:04The metal planters for the bamboo were custom designed by us and welded on site.
05:10We did the same for the windows and the staircase railing.
05:15We advocate a very clean and simplistic as well as functional style of architecture which we consider to be essential
05:23when designing small spaces.
05:25It is therefore important to focus on the basics in order to ensure an elegant and sharp result.
05:31We feel that small spaces are the future and by ensuring that quality small spaces are available,
05:39we help people become aware that living in a small space can be just as good as living in a
05:44big space.
05:45throughout them they are in the cleaning stone
05:50they are in the dark gray area.
05:54They are the Perfectionんな
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