The house is situated in one of the most rugged areas on the outskirts of Argentina’s most densely populated urban centre, the Buenos Aires delta. This initial juxtaposition is a significant aspect of the site. At the front of the plot lies the access canal, while at the rear stretches an endless, humid willow forest. The ground continually shifts between water and land.

The building is oriented along the length of the plot, seeking to capture both conditions and emphasise the landscape references of this ever-changing site.

The volume takes the form of a timber parallelepiped with opposing facets. The long elevations are continuous, with some interventions at the entrance and subtler semi-permeable sections that allow ventilation while preserving privacy. The end facades are recessed towards the plot’s two principal views.

The house’s floor plan is defined by two volumes separated by a free-standing core set within the perimeter, enabling an uninterrupted dialogue between the site’s dual conditions.

A stilt house best adapts to fluctuating water levels. However, given the site’s challenges—its remoteness and the unpredictable presence or absence of water—a strategy of opposites was adopted. On one hand, the substructure was built in situ using the region’s traditional timber stilt method. On the other, the house was prefabricated in a factory some 20 km (13mi) away, in an easily accessible town, which facilitated site supervision and construction progress by protecting the work from the elements.

Prefabrication employed industrial timber SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) panels measuring 244cm (8ft) × 122cm (4ft). These panels modulate the entire house to minimise waste; their weight and dimensions ease transportation, and they function as the primary thermal-insulating walls. The complete house was assembled in the factory, after which each panel was labelled prior to dismantlin