We're suckers for a well-made concrete home here at New Atlas and the MeMo House definitely fits the bill. Bam! Arquitectura responded to a green-fingered client's wishes for maximum garden space in a cramped plot by installing a green roof and large plant-covered ramps. The home also boasts some sustainable design, including solar power and rainwater collection.
The MeMo House is shoehorned into a relatively narrow plot between buildings in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and comprises 215 sq m (2,314 sq ft) of usable floorspace. The first floor includes a kitchen, living room, and dining room, while going upstairs reveals three bedrooms and a like number of bathrooms. The rooftop terrace can also be reached using the ramps and stairs.
The interior decor looks fantastic, providing you're a big fan of exposed concrete. If not, you probably won't find much to like here, even if the effect is softened by the greenery and use of wood.
The home opens up to the outside with multiple sliding doors and windows and their placement has been carefully calculated to promote cross-ventilation, minimizing air-conditioner needs. The first floor also features large operable wooden shutters.
Plenty of thought clearly went into making MeMo House energy-efficient. The use of reinforced concrete ensures low maintenance and provides excellent thermal mass (that is, it won't heat up much in the sun). Bam! Arquitectura also says that the interior of the MeMo House gets an equal amount of daylight throughout, cutting down on the need for electric lighting during the day.
In addition, rainwater is collected and stored in a tank for irrigation use, while the large roof-based solar panels reduce the home's grid-based electricity use, as well as providing hot water. In a nice touch, the residence's gate was made from leftover materials, and all biodegradable waste produced during the build was composted.
The MeMo House was completed in 2016.
Source: Bam! Arquitectura