A floating and temporary building. FLIA by Jarq

04/12/2023. [Córdoba] Argentina
metalocus, JORGE MARTINEZ

Jarq architecture studio has been in charge of the construction of a place that would house exhibitions, installations, events, cultural programs and workshops in different fields in the upper area of the northern bank of the Suquíala River in the city of Córdoba, in Argentina.

The building was designed in such a way that the special landscape perspective that is formed on the land is exploited to the maximum. Therefore, the project unfolds towards the city and the neighborhood, with a sharp setback of the building that interrupts the consolidated visual line in the block. It also rises above a sloping green space that, when set back, allows the creation of a semi-private space on the first floor, where the façade is completely translucent.

FLIA by Jarq. Photograph by Federico Cairoli.

FLIA by Jarq. Photograph by Federico Cairoli.

Floor plans. FLIA by Jarq.

Section plan. FLIA by Jarq.

Axonometry plan. FLIA by Jarq.

Construction photography. FLIA by Jarq.

FLIA, designed by the Jarq architecture studio, is a space built using containers, which allows it to be a relocatable and capitalizable building, in order to promote the talent and culture of the place where it is located.

The building has two floors, on the first there are service spaces along a main axis of mixed uses, on the second there is a private office, a space for free use.

The leftover material from drilling to generate the large windows in the containers was reused for the construction of the kitchen, bathrooms and grill, so in a way it can be considered a sustainable project.

FLIA by Jarq. Photograph by Federico Cairoli.

Description of project by Jarq

Multi-purpose shipping container.
We envisioned a place that would host exhibitions, installations, events, cultural programs and workshops from different fields to foster local talent and culture: visual arts, digital arts, architecture, design, photography, etc.

That was our idea. We opened in February 2020. Everything was ready… But we had to make changes. Our architecture studio, which was originally planned to use only 20% of the space, took over almost the entire building.

We rented a vacant lot until 2026 in a small and not very well-known neighborhood of the city, Ducasse, which is located in the high area of the northern banks of the Suquía River. Consequently, the lot has an imposing view of the city, a unique feature that we wanted to exploit and highlight in our project.

FLIA by Jarq. Photograph by Federico Cairoli.

We designed the project in containers, which meant that 90% of the building —and therefore the investment— would be relocatable or capitalizable. However utopian it may sound, we received this one morning and, if necessary, it would be gone in a week.

FLIA has two floors: on the first floor, service areas (kitchen, storage and bathrooms) are arranged in a block parallel to the lot’s dividing wall, freeing up the central space and allowing for flexible semi-covered use for events, meetings, exhibitions, or just a simple lunch.

The second floor leads to the containers, where there is a module that serves as a private office and a space for free use (4 unified modules), clad in wood, where the view is our key player.

FLIA by Jarq. Photograph by Federico Cairoli.

We had to reduce and capitalize on as much material as possible: the kitchen, bathrooms and even the barbecue grill were built out of the surplus of the containers that make up the second floor. This system was also designed to be easily moved to any location as needed.

The walls are bolted to each other and to the floor, and are made up of sheet metal panels from the recycled shipping containers, insulation, and the interior finish.

Flia unfolds to the city and the neighborhood. The building’s setback interrupts the existing consolidated municipal line on the block.

FLIA by Jarq. Photograph by Federico Cairoli.

On a sloping green space, above which the entrance staircase rises, the building is set back and lifted, providing an open space to the neighborhood, which children and dogs are constantly taking ownership of. And truth be told: we love that.

At the same time, this setback and slope provides “privacy” to the first floor, where the façade is completely translucent. Therefore, on this level, we have also taken advantage of the views, generating a semi-covered space for meetings, gatherings or relaxing.