A swimming pool is raised above the ground at the White Modular House, which was designed by Argentine studio SET Arquitectura to "intervene as little as possible in the natural terrain".

Located in the mountains of Córdoba Province in Argentina, the all-white house rises from a steep hillside blanketed with native vegetation.

The main intent for local studio SET Arquitectura was to "establish a respectful relationship between architecture and landscape".

"Casa Modular White proposes a contemporary way of inhabiting the territory," the team said.

"The project adopts a clear strategy: intervene as little as possible in the natural terrain and allow the landscape to remain the true protagonist."

To achieve this, the studio conceived a three-storey, steel-framed structure lifted above the ground with stilts, thus reducing its physical footprint while providing elevated vistas.

"This approach minimises earthworks and allows the building to rest lightly upon the site, almost hovering above it," the team said.

The home is square-shaped in plan, and its main exterior materials are steel and corrugated metal cladding.

White was used to create a unified look and to present the house as an "abstract object" within the rugged terrain.

The design team used a modular approach throughout the home, from the overall layout to the structural system, facade treatment and circulation. This modular approach allowed for efficiency and clarity.

"The architecture presents itself as a precise and restrained intervention, contrasting with the irregularity of the surrounding vegetation, slopes and natural textures," the team said.

"This contrast is not intended to dominate the environment, but rather to highlight the coexistence of two distinct conditions – the organic complexity of nature and the rational geometry of the built form."

The main entrance is located on the second level and is accessed via an elevated steel walkway. Careful attention was paid to the entry sequence, ensuring that views of the valley were gradually revealed.

Totalling 280 square metres, the home, which serves as a primary residence, offers bright rooms, white walls and wooden flooring. The spatial organisation was informed by the site's topography and the desire to capitalise on views.

The second level also contains the public area – a living space, kitchen and dining room, which merge with outdoor spaces. Large stretches of glass bring in daylight while offering expansive vistas.

Bedrooms are found on the first and third levels.

"Each room establishes a unique relationship with the landscape, offering specific views, distinct levels of intimacy and multiple forms of connection with the outdoors," the team said.

The team extended the home beyond the interior by adding terraces and platforms, along with a swimming pool on the middle level.

"The swimming pool, conceived as a suspended volume projecting over the slope, becomes part of a sequence of outdoor areas designed to enhance contemplation of the landscape and enjoyment of the mountain climate," the team said.

Other projects in Córdoba include House in the Clouds designed by architect Malvina Zaya for herself and family, and a concrete and stone house by Nanzer + Vitas that is meant to resemble a medieval village.

The photography is by Gonzalo Viramonte.

Project credits:

Architecture: SET Arquitectura
Architects in charge: Carlos Arias, Pedro Ruiz Funes
Design team: Carlos Arias, Pedro Ruiz Funes, Paloma Allende
Engineering: Lucas Crespi
Collaborators: Juan E Biassi