Isabelle Laurent
Brutal Honesty is a project rooted in direct expression and raw authenticity. Earth-colored retaining walls rise from the terrain like abstract rock formations, defining three terraces and forming internal partitions that echo the contours of the land. These elements organize the interior spaces and reflect the way the house is inhabited, embracing a narrative shaped by its users.
Supporting a distinctive concrete plane, a grey plateau, the structure opens to 360-degree views of the Andean desert mountains and the oasis below. The house becomes a tectonic extension of the hillside, establishing a profound and sincere relationship with its environment.
Located in Pedemonte, Mendoza, Argentina, the site demands a negotiation between solar orientation and panoramic views. North provides optimal light in the Southern Hemisphere, while the South offers the most striking vistas. The house integrates seamlessly into the existing slope and native vegetation; not a single tree was removed during construction.
Programmatically, the house unfolds in three vertical stages of perception: inside the earth (basement), in-between the earth (ground floor), and outside the earth (first floor). At the heart lies the kitchen, wrapped by communal spaces and connected by three staircases offering alternative routes and spatial experiences. Four terraces extend the house outward. The main terrace continues the living and dining areas into the landscape. Adjacent, the BBQ area supports large gatherings. A third terrace, linked to the playroom, provides a semi-independent space for children. Above all, the rooftop plateau offers zones for yoga, a fireplace, a jacuzzi, and gardens, framing the surroundings and inviting moments of stillness.
On the canyon-facing elevation, earth-toned concrete walls define the house’s massing and shield it from southern exposure. The structure seems to emerge from the hill, yet asserts a new identity, which the design team refers to as “OF. Abstract Nature.” Exposed concrete, chosen for its resonance with local materials and crafted in close collaboration with regional builders, was fine-tuned through on-site testing to match the earth’s hues. This attention to materiality anchors the house in place, both visually and symbolically.
Sustainability is central to the design approach. Passive strategies, thermal insulation, shading, and natural ventilation, reduce energy demand. Solar panels, solar heaters, and a greywater system further enhance the house’s environmental performance.
The clients envisioned a home that encourages connection while preserving privacy, maintaining visual dialogue between communal and intimate spaces. Their brief emphasized the importance of the views, the vegetation, and the idea of living with the land, not just on it. In essence, Brutal Honesty is a built extension of the mountain, a space for living that neither conceals nor embellishes, but exists in open dialogue with its surroundings. It celebrates nature’s raw presence through architecture that is both sincere and grounded.
Project Info
Architects: OF. Studio
Country: Argentina, Luján de Cuyo
Area: 571 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Luis Abba
Lead Team: Sebastian Andia
Design Team: Valentina Cerrone Chaar
Technical Team: Carlos Fernando Andia, Daniel Carrera Ferreyra, Ana Paula Ridi, Alejandro Marchetti
Architecture Offices: Andia Arquitectos – Jimena Andia
Engineering & Consulting > Structural: ABAX – Gustavo Manresa, Alejandro Carosio, Pablo Martin
Landscape Architecture: Elina Llaver
Engineering & Consulting > Environmental Sustainability: Solar – Alfredo Estévez, ENERGE
Engineering & Consulting > Services: Daniel Giandinotto, Marcelo Gassibe, Gabriel Rover
Engineering & Consulting > Electrical: Daniel F. Ridi
General Constructing: Felipe Deshayy, Teo Rodríguez, Miguel Gandolfo
Engineering & Consulting > Lighting: ASPEN – Juan Pablo Balaña
Tags: 2024ArgentinaBrutal HonestyConcreteGlassLuis AbbaLuján de CuyoOF. Studio
Isabelle Laurent
Isabelle Laurent is a Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, recognized for her editorial insight and passion for contemporary architecture. She holds a Master’s in Architectural Theory from École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. Before joining Arch2O in 2016, she worked in a Paris-based architectural office and taught as a faculty adjunct at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. Isabelle focuses on curating projects around sustainability, adaptive reuse, and urban resilience. With a background in design and communication, she brings clarity to complex ideas and plays a key role in shaping Arch2O’s editorial
