morini arquitectos filters light through a log façade for golf club in argentina

morini arquitectos has designed a golf club house located in estancia pueblo la paz, argentina.

morini arquitectos has designed a golf club house located in estancia pueblo la paz, argentina. rich in history, the site was formerly the summer residence and golfing resort for the president of the nation in the 19th century. the architects hoped to design a new intervention which would respect the site’s rich cultural significance.

upon visiting the site where the 18th hole of the golf course ends, morini arquitectos were fascinated by the piles of logs that were planted over a hundred years ago. they discovered that these logs have been ‘silent witnesses’ to the history of the estancia. the architects thus employ logs as a way of preserving the material heritage of the estancia, forming a bond between the old and new architecture.

the program requirements for the clubhouse include a cafeteria, changing rooms and an administrative office. three distinct volumes connected by terraces and multiple entryways create a variety of spaces. the building’s façade was developed using more than 20,000 logs of different species from the site. bark was removed manually to avoid decomposition and the building was raised one meter from the ground with the log wall separated twenty centimeters from the envelope of the buildings for ventilation.

the façade was designed with the help of a sculptor who ensured that the logs were arranged in such a way as to create a light and transparent appearance. all internal walls were built from glass to ensure a play of lights between night and day. while natural light enters freely during the day, the building seems to glow at night as light radiates to the exterior. the club house is a constantly changing building. not only does the lighting change the façade from day to night, but as the logs age they change colors slowly giving life to the building.