A former summer residence of Argentine President J.A. Roca has been transformed into a striking contemporary hotel complex that honors both its historic significance and regional architectural traditions. The Entre Pircas Suites, designed by Alarciaferrer Arquitectos, represents a thoughtful blend of modern hospitality design and traditional rural construction methods in Córdoba, Argentina. The project adds a fresh architectural layer to a site rich with 19th-century buildings, a park designed by renowned landscape architect Carlos Thays, and a spectacular artificial lake.
The design draws its primary inspiration from the region's characteristic "pircas" – traditional rural stone walls historically used to enclose agricultural land. This deep connection to local building traditions creates a hotel experience that feels authentically rooted in its time and place. The architects have successfully created a contemporary interpretation of these rural elements while maintaining respect for the site's presidential heritage and natural landscape.
The architectural concept centers around seven wide, parallel stone walls positioned five meters apart, which serve as the structural foundation for an inclined wooden roof system. This geometric approach creates a powerful yet simple framework that naturally adapts to the existing topography and carefully preserves the mature trees scattered throughout the property. The strategic spacing and orientation ensure that each suite is thoughtfully positioned within the broader landscape context.
Construction materials play a crucial role in connecting the new suites to regional building traditions. The extensive use of natural stone and wood directly references the traditional rural architecture of the Córdoba region, creating a strong sense of both material and cultural continuity. This material palette not only honors local construction methods but also ensures the suites blend harmoniously with the historic buildings already present on the site.
Each individual suite features a carefully planned layout designed to maximize both space efficiency and natural light penetration. The interior organization includes a welcoming front entrance gallery, a comfortable bedroom area, a central light and ventilation patio, and a compact wet core containing the bathroom and shower facilities. This thoughtful arrangement ensures guests experience both privacy and connection to the surrounding landscape.
The central patio serves as a particularly important design element, providing essential cross-ventilation and natural lighting while functioning as a spatial separator between the living areas and bathroom facilities. This courtyard concept not only improves the environmental performance of each suite but also creates intimate outdoor spaces that enhance the overall guest experience. The patios allow natural light to penetrate deep into the interior spaces while maintaining privacy between adjacent suites.
Inside each suite, the dividing stone walls serve a dual purpose, housing essential storage solutions and mechanical facilities while maintaining the clean, uncluttered aesthetic of the living spaces. This efficient use of the structural elements demonstrates how traditional building techniques can be adapted for contemporary hospitality needs. The light-filled entrance galleries create seamless connections between the suites and their natural surroundings, serving as transitional spaces that blur the boundaries between interior and exterior environments.
