Housing Expansion David Peña | Christian Silva arquitecto
Finding a way to expand a house and a ceramic workshop was the objective of this commission. The program was reorganized by projecting a staircase and a volume of thirty square meters on a terrace of the existing house.
© Miguel Caamaño
On the outside, the white volume is a continuous envelope of sinusoidal metal sheet with the exception of three openings: a small window for the bathroom and two slits, one vertical on the landing of the staircase and the other horizontal, on the workbench of the workshop. The orientation of these small openings allows the entry of natural light throughout the day and the possibility of views of the nearby trees from the interior of the house.
© Miguel Caamaño
An attempt was made to minimize the masonry and wet work. Only to level the old terrace and to generate in situ a plan for the constructions of reinforced concrete. The rest of the construction is lightweight and dry mounted in place.
© Miguel Caamaño
Inside, multi-laminated wood is used to give warmth to the interior. The southwest wall is a large piece of two feet thick wood, containing a small table, storage places, shelves, and a system to contain the central curtain. At one end, the shelves in this piece come to link the double-height and dialogue with the staircase and the exit door to the courtyard.
© Miguel Caamaño
The staircase is formally expressed on the outside and links the existing building with the new elements. The first section is a continuous folding in wood, which in turn forms a storage space. The second section is lighter, the steps are resting on a metal structure. At the other end of the workshop, the bathroom door forms a continuous plane to the ceiling that cuts the continuity of the white wall.
© Miguel Caamaño
The ceramic pieces with their colors and textures, their molds, and tools should be the protagonists of this space. The resulting space is a container that is favorable to the dynamics of the workshop.
© Miguel Caamaño
© Miguel Caamaño
Project Info
Architects: Christian Silva arquitecto
Area: 30 m²
Year: 2021
Country: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Manufacturers: Avellaneda, Barbieri, Ceramicas San Lorenzo, Durlock, FV, Isover, Pladur, Tapebicuá, Ternium
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.