LeBreton 4482 Building is located on a quiet street in the neighborhood of Villa Urquiza, limited by edges that generate two rail lines with a focus on Coghlan and Drago stations.
© Federico Kulekdjian
It is a thriving neighborhood that demolitions for the construction of the highway could not make disappear, characterized by its diverse typologies – from old houses of one and two floors to high apartment buildings – quiet, tree-lined streets next to rapid transit and fluid avenues. The building responds to the environment with a distinctly contemporary appearance.
© Federico Kulekdjian
The proposal has its starting point in another building by our office built on the same street, just 50 meters away. Taking it as a starting point, Le Breton II, as we like to call it, has certain typologies of its predecessor and also incorporates 3 types of houses with gardens of different areas. They are grouped into two blocks divided by a large central courtyard with an open circulation core. The apartments overlooking the street are studio, two and three-bedroom units, and two penthouses with terrace. The block to the back has 3 houses on the ground floor with their own garden and a penthouse on the third floor with a large terrace and pool. These typologies are trying to maintain the character of the houses in the neighborhood but within the comforts of a collective housing complex.
© Federico Kulekdjian
The materials and finishes try to reinforce the idea of the structure as language: the structural concrete is exposed, unpainted, appealing to different types of formwork for light to highlight the different finishes. Large glass panels from floor to ceiling with aluminum frames, interior, and exterior black plastering make up the finishes. The incorporation of wood as an exterior language of the rear block, gives the building a particular and modern warmth, in contrast to the block in front, creating a friendly dialogue between them and the surrounding environment.
Project Info
Architects: Barq
Year: 2014
Country: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photographs: Federico Kulekdjian
Project Team: Julián Berdichevsky, Mariano Varela, Magdalena Real, Carla Selva, Daniela Devesa
Structures: Sebastián Berdichevsky
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.