La Negrita House, Molvento, Córdoba, Argentina

La Negrita House in Molvento, Córdoba

8 October 2026

Architects: Estudio Palacios

Location: Molvento, Dique Los Molinos, Córdoba, Argentina

Photos by Arq. Gonzalo Viramonte

Sited on the shores of Lake Los Molinos and surrounded by a dense eucalyptus forest, La Negrita embodies the desire to experience leisure within a beautiful, playful atmosphere defined by a unique microclimate.

The primary design strategy was the creation of a central courtyard—conceived as a void that captures the sun and channels light throughout the home. It serves as the heart of the project.

This void organizes the layout, introducing natural light into every room and establishing a constant visual connection between the interior and the landscape. Because the house sits at a lower elevation than the street, the courtyard provides necessary privacy without severing the connection to the outdoors.

The siting strategy aimed to preserve as many existing trees as possible, allowing the land to retain its woodland character.

Access is gained via a large deck and a staircase that leads directly to the home’s heart: the internal courtyard. From this point, the house opens up, offering views of the courtyard itself as well as the surrounding forest and lake.

Material choices were inspired by the surroundings. Black-pigmented concrete echoes the blackened bark of the eucalyptus trees, while stone cladding creates continuity with the natural forest floor. In this way, the house seeks to integrate into the landscape rather than impose itself upon it.

Inside, the color palette reinforces this bond with nature through stone tones and green hues that evoke eucalyptus foliage. Warm materials—such as wood and tan leather—are layered onto this neutral base, alongside reddish accents that add warmth to the spaces.

Overhead lighting played a key role in the project. Skylights were incorporated into the darker areas to recreate the feeling of being beneath a forest canopy. Light filters in through circular openings, creating an interplay of light and shadow that reinforces the sensory connection to nature.

La Negrita finds its identity in the surrounding landscape. Every design decision seeks to establish a respectful dialogue with the forest and the lake, creating an architecture that invites one to experience nature in all its aspects.