Varvarco Lodge

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

Varvarco Lodge

Forsetti, Lozano, Güichal, Paramo, Petrini y DINAMO Arquitectura

ARCHITECTS
Dinamo Arquitectura, Forsetti, Güichal, Lozano, Paramo, Petrini

STRUCTURES
Diego Martínez

FIRE SAFETY
Hugo Calió

SITE SUPERVISION
Ministerio De Desarrollo Territorial, Provincia Del Neuquén.

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Varvarco, Argentina

CATEGORY
Hostel

Text description provided by architect.

Varvarco is a development commission, founded in 1973, which currently has just over 600 inhabitants, mostly rural people (crianceros).

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura
Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

It is located in the north of the province of Neuquen. At a micro-regional scale it is a strategic point in the Argentine Patagonia due to its direct link to a number of natural attractions and diversity of tourism products.

In recent years Varvarco has been poised to consolidate its territorial role as Mountain Village with services for tourism development.

In this framework the construction of the building complex formed by the lodge and 4 cottages (second construction phase) fall within a range of actions for urban restructuring and value in two scenarios:

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura
Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

to consolidate the existing and promote new areas of urban expansion, where the architecture is presented as on more link in an engine for the development of communities.

This conceptual matrix was the basis for the award of the first prize of the provincial ideas competition and preliminary sketches for the development of public space in the town of Varvarco.

The lodge proposes an architecture that values its relationship with the landscape. The building extends to win views to the confluence of the Varvarco and Neuquen rivers and protect the exterior spaces from the prevailing winds.

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura
Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

It incorporates into its functional essence and constructive mission the environmental values of the Northern Patagonia.

In its shape, the building complex prioritizes integration with stunning scenery and incorporates the plot of paths that arise in the village and link it to the rest of the urban area. The building, designed on one floor, respects the horizontality and scale of the surrounding environment.

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura
Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

It seeks to integrate and appropriate the landscape it its programmatic extension, where all rooms and public areas of the lodge are visually connected to the stunning scenery provided by the Andes and the meeting of the Varvarco and Neuquen rivers.

Both the interior and exterior spaces are protected from inclement weather, the prevailing winds and sunlight.

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura
Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

The material definition responds to complex conditions of the location, both climatic and territorial.

The materials incorporate all potentialities that the area offers adapted to a tight construction system, in its spans and dimensions, and precise in their relationships.

Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura
Varvarco Lodge
Courtesy of DINAMO Arquitectura

Finally, as stated by Carlos Martí Arís, "When the work has the property of engendering around it a space of silence, it promotes a different perspective on reality, a stripped, abstract view, in which the world appears to us under the sign of contemplation."


Varvarco Lodge
Site Plan
Varvarco Lodge
Plan


Varvarco Lodge
Detail 1
Varvarco Lodge
Detail 2


Varvarco Lodge
Section

Varvarco Lodge
Vertical Unfolding


Varvarco Lodge
Elevation 1
Varvarco Lodge
Elevation 1
Varvarco Lodge
Elevation 2


Varvarco Lodge
Elevation 3
Varvarco Lodge
Elevation 4