Lead Project Architect and rendering: Arch. Fernando Mendez. And others Architects and civil engineers.
PROJECT TYPE: Mixed-use and Residential buildings.
LOCATION: Neuquén City, Argentina.
SIZE: 21000 m² / 226042 sq. f
YEAR:2014
This macro-project aims to generate an exclusive architecture, where the set of buildings has a strong presence between the river and the city, standing as a recognizable landmark within the urban riverbank and the city of Neuquén In other words, to design a high-class building complex, the units are open to the environment with the best views and spacious and bright spaces according to their location.
The new buildings will be part of an existing housing complex and an exhibition hall, to which a building is also added with adequate parking to meet the needs of the entire complex
Each building has independent pedestrian access and common vehicular access in a park that belongs to the complex, placing a large pool and amenities available to each guest among these
The residential towers rise above their surroundings and reach 12 stories high, incorporating movement through the doubleheight balcony terraces arranged alternately on each other, enhancing the views and appraising the landscape
Another critical point is to achieve recreational spaces for everyone
A courtyard with green elements is designed above the parking lot, along with a large swimming pool and a multi-purpose room, with an outdoor space equipped with grills for all users of the buildings
Complex Aerial view
Complex Floor Plan (2th Level)
Masterplan Aerial View
Work Experience at Poggi-Schmit Architects (2011-2016) Selected Projects
Principal Project Architect and rendering:: Arch. Fernando Mendez. And others Architects and civil engineers.
PROYECT TIPE: Education
LOCATION: Neuquén City, Argentina.
SIZE: 2500 m² / 26909 sq. f
YEAR:2016
The educational complex is developed on a single level fronting Solalique Street, projected with a free perimeter and a scheme composed of two wings, each with a differentiated functional program, and articulated through the multi-purpose room (MPR).
One of the wings is intended for kindergarten and the other for primary school, pedestrian, and vehicular accesses through Solalique Street
The building's multi-purpose room takes center stage by relating these two functional areas Outside there is ample space for courtyards for students’ recreation. Both wings have differentiated access, thus achieving greater independence and security In addition, there is a waiting section at the entrance of both kindergarten and primary school to control the parents’ access to the facilities. The classrooms have an area of 49m² each and large windows that bring in natural light and correct ventilation.
Work Experience at Poggi-Schmit Architects (2011-2016)
CPCEN – BUILDING OF THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES OF NEUQUEN
The building is the seat of the Council of Economic Sciences of Neuquén, the institutional headquarters that brings together all the professional accountants of the province, previously located in an old house in the heart of the city. Due to the need for a more spacious workspace for their daily operations, the board contacted us to design a project to solve the size issue following guidelines regarding:
-Continuity of operations during the construction process: the design and structure created allowed the continuity of operations in the headquarters and the building site
-The institution’s hierarchy: the street-facing façade is delimited by the property line, built on a 15m frontage, and visible to vehicles and pedestrians. The identity of the institution is strengthened
-The functional improvements: open floor plans are designed to offer layout flexibility over time
-The real estate value: the property’s value is increased due to the new image and operation of the building.
-The rational building: a simple, modulated building is designed, possibly creating a more flexible internal layout, thanks to open floor plans in the new intervention area
-The possibility of staging work: the project can be coordinated in different stages to continue operating at the headquarters and simultaneously advance with the construction work, ensuring minimal disruption to daily work.
-Sustainability: the sustainable design was applied, creating healthy, economically feasible spaces sensitive to the needs of the building and the impact on the immediate and mediate environment: a conscious design in terms of energy
Project Architect and rendering: Arch. Fernando Mendez. And others Architects and civil engineers
PROJECT TYPE: Mixed-use and Residential buildings
LOCATION: Neuquén City, Argentina.
SIZE: 27600 m² / 297083 sq. f
YEAR:2016
This building complex is a response to the need for quality housing within a devalued area on the edges of the center of Neuquén, in addition to generating a commercial base with offices to improve the habitability and hierarchy of this vital area of the city.
This set of buildings is represented as a united architectural whole, although within its conception, three independent buildings are united by the commercial and office base
The complex is made up of a commercial area on the ground floor, two floors of offices, an intermediate floor with amenities for each building, and a three-story parking garage that can accommodate the maximum occupancy of the building, leaving a remnant of 10% for the rental of parking lots necessary in said area
The complex also enjoys a beautiful indoor park with a lot of green elements and outdoor furniture for the exclusive use of occupiers
Residential buildings have individual access and vertical core with elevators and stairs.
The apartments have 1, 2, and 3 quality bedrooms with views towards the front of Olascoaga Avenue and the interior park. All units have excellent finishings, comfortable spaces, and spacious outdoor balconies
Work Experience at Poggi-Schmit Architects (2011-2016) Selected Projects
Lead Architect and rendering: Arch. Fernando Mendez. And others Architects and civil engineers.
PROJECT TYPE: Mixed-use and residential buildings
LOCATION: Neuquén City, Argentina.
SIZE: 5600 m² / 60277 sq. f
YEAR:2016
San Juan building is projected on a narrow front plot of land, and it has had its challenges because of a small pedestrian street on its long side, which conditioned its corner
Even so, a 13-story building with great views of the surroundings stands to the front of Boulevard San Juan Avenue, and a small square facing the neighborhood’s interior at its back
The 2-bedroom apartments have privileged views to the front and back, and the 1-bedroom apartments are located with views towards the pedestrian crossing; though being at a low altitude, they enjoy a great amplitude and sentiment towards the city center All apartments have excellent lighting and natural ventilation.
Principal Project Architect and rendering: Arch. Fernando Mendez. And others Architects and civil engineers.
PROJECT TYPE: Mixed Use and Residential Building LOCATION: Neuquén, Neuquén Province, Argentina.
SIZE: 10600 m² / 114097 sq. f YEAR:2016
This project emerged from a deep area analysis of current housing needs provided for realtors professionals, which the landlords required This analysis mentioned unsatisfied housing needs and many potential tenants hoping to have shelter in this sought-after city area For this reason and with a joint effort, the landlords decided to unify two side-to-side plots to have greater constructiveness and better qualities to design apartments Consequently, this project responds to housing needs and seeks better habitational conditions than the current options in this area This building has a significant commercial area in front of a large sidewalk and three-story parking levels for more than 100 vehicles Seeking functional and aesthetic modern architecture with simple lines It accommodates 78 spacious apartments with 1, 2, and 3 quality bedrooms with views toward the front and back side of the plot All units have excellent finishings, comfortable spaces, and spacious outdoor balconies. These exclusive residences enjoy beautiful and expansive views of the environs
Principal Project Architect and rendering: Arch. Fernando Mendez. And others Architects and civil engineers.
PROJECT TYPE: Mixed-Use and Residential Building
LOCATION: General Roca City, Rio Negro Province, Argentina.
SIZE: 4500 m² / 48437 sq. f
YEAR:2013
This project arose from the need of the United Italy Association (Asociación Italia Unida) of the City of General Roca to develop a solid future investment for this association, and investors gathered for the cause. The entity’s board of directors acquired a corner lot near its current city center facilities
The project proposed is a building of apartments and a commercial base with a maximum of 8 stories as required by municipal regulations, according to the urban area where it is located
Thus, a building with a commercial base is projected throughout the corner, hierarchizing the use and pedestrian movement in the area. The building has 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments with amenities and excellent finishings. All building occupants have access to a multi-purpose lounge on the top floor with bathrooms, a kitchen, and a large terrace overlooking the park in front of the building
The building has an underground parking garage that can accommodate 70% of the building occupancy, complying with the minimum building code requirement
CH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE
Project & Sitework Supervision: Arch. Fernando Mendez. (under construction)
Structural engineering: Grupo Seed (http://www.gruposeed.com.ar/)
Rendering: Ark Renders (https://arkrenders.com/)
PROJECT TYPE: Single Family House - Residential
LOCATION: Cipolletti, Rio Negro Province, Argentina
SIZE: 500 m² / 5381 sq. f
YEAR:2021
The project arises from a large set of clients’ needs to take advantage of the extension and square meters of the land.
Our clients require that all the main spaces have connections and views towards the backyard, extending from both the social and private areas Consequently, the implementation of the project forms a slightly rotated L, respecting the slight diagonal of the front, generating a north-south rectangle that houses the social area, services, and the east-west wing that contains the private room with their respective services. At the corner point, the main access hall leads you to the social or private areas
Once entering the access hall, a staircase unfolds through a studio on the upper floor
The social volume is hierarchized from the main front (living roomdining room-kitchen) at different heights and large windows towards the front and the back Both the private area and the service area have a simple height, thus generating a set of plans of different materiality featuring a façade with pure lines and other materials that highlight all different areas
SEED HOUSE
Project: Arch. Fernando Mendez. Structural engineering: Grupo Seed (http://www.gruposeed.com.ar/) Rendering: SF Render ( https://sfrender.com/)
PROJECT TYPE: Single Family House - Residential
LOCATION: Neuquén Province, Argentina
SIZE: 190 m² / 4606 sq. f
YEAR:2022-2023
This house responds to a specific request from our client, whose businesses are engineering and construction The premise was to project a different, and at the same time, attractive, aesthetic, and functional home with non maintenance using a combination of board-formed bare concrete and durable materials, with a maximum of 170 m2 covered This project aims to build and sell an architectural product suitable for the environment, position the company in the real estate market, and be the precursor of other future developments.
This house is developed on two floors, with a social area on the ground floor and a private room with a bathroom and dressing room, with views of the backyard without losing privacy. Upstairs there are two standard bedrooms with a bathroom and a laundry room
This design was considered to incorporate renewable energy, solar panels on the roof, and sustainable green terraces to lower the temperatures of the tops
MYL HOUSE
Project & Sitework supervision: Arch. Fernando Mendez. (under construction) Structural engineering: Grupo Seed (http://www.gruposeed.com.ar/) Rendering: SF Render ( https://sfrender.com/)
PROJECT TYPE: Single Family House - Residential
LOCATION: Neuquén, Neuquén Province, Argentina.
SIZE: 580 m² / 6243 sq. f
YEAR:2020
The project’s main idea consists of two functional and aesthetically contrasting boxes. The ground floor has immediate access through a hall accompanying the staircase and an interior patio separating the social area from the studio and the guest bathroom
The social area is an open concept that generates a daily dining room/kitchen that connects with a large semi-covered gallery, with access to the backyard that overlooks an equestrian club.
The BBQ area is connected to the semicovered gallery, which has service access from the garage, overlooking the entire courtyard, and is directly related to the pool through the deck
The suspended upper floor box determines the service and parking access, generating a semideck for vehicles and small tool storage
The upper floor is divided into two parts, the secondary bedroom area, overlooking the backyard, two bedrooms, a small dressing room, common access adapted as a studio, and a bathroom with a sink area close to the staircase The laundry room separates this area from the main suite facing the front, with an access hall that leads to a bedroom, a dressing room, or a bathroom compartmentalized into three sectors (a sink area, a bathroom, a shower, or a bathtub area)
Project: Arch. Fernando Mendez. Structural enginnering: Grupo Seed (http://www.gruposeed.com.ar/) Rendering: SF Render ( https://sfrender.com/)
PROJECT TYPE: Residential
LOCATION: Cipolletti, Rio Negro Province, Argentina
SIZE: 455 m² / 4897 sq. f
YEAR:2022
The project idea arises from planning a house built entirely on the ground floor with the exception of a private studio on the upper floor
The client's premise was to achieve an open and bright home towards the backyard and to gain privacy without losing good lighting towards the front.
From this premise, we designed a house with interior courtyards organizing the areas and bringing in lighting and ventilation, in addition to providing spatial quality
The house is conceptually structured in two significant areas, to the front and the south the private area (suite, bedrooms, and services), and the social room formed by the living roomkitchen and BBQ area to the back facing north. The social sector is connected with a sizeable semi-covered gallery that acts as a transition between the house and the backyard, in addition to protecting the large windows from the amount of sunlight coming from the north
These (social and private) areas are physically separated by a large inner courtyard that organizes and, in turn, provides privacy
The upper floor is detached from the access to the living room and reaches a studio in the center of the house with panoramic views practically towards the four cardinal points
The studio also has a toilet and access to the reserve tank room.
The image of the house is a combination of straight and simple lines, materializing the box that wraps the interior in white chalk and concrete details seen in boards combined with black floor-to-ceiling openings
MT HOUSE
Project: Arch. Fernando Mendez. Structural engineering: Grupo Seed (http://www.gruposeed.com.ar/) Rendering: Tabarq (https://www.tabarq3d.com/)
PROJECT TYPE: Residential
LOCATION: Neuquén, Neuquén Province, Argentina. SIZE: 384 m² / 4133 sq. f YEAR:2019
The house is designed in two welldefined areas, separated by an access hall, a social room open to the backyard, and an intermediate gallery that acts as a transition space between the interior and the exterior This area has large windows that allow the natural lighting of the southeast sector. The services and complementary uses area includes a double garage, a toilet, stairs, and a studio. The upper floor is divided into two sections; the main suite overlooks the background with a dressing room, bathroom, and a private terrace The other section comprises two bedrooms and a bathroom facing the front
AC HOUSE
Original Project: Arch. Leandra Rodriguez
Project Modification + Interiors & Sitework supervisión: Arch. Fernando Mendez.
LOCATION: Cipolletti, Rio Negro Province, Argentina.
SIZE: 320 m² / 3444 sq. f
YEAR:2019
The client has hired us to quickly reform the project he already had and then be able to start construction.
After analyzing the project and evaluating the client's modifications, essential adjustments are made that considerably improve the original project
Among the functional modifications, a new and larger en-suite bathroom was designed for the main room, creating a sizeable compartmentalized bathroom in three different spaces: a sink area, a toilet and bidet area, and another area for a toilet and bidet showering. The position of the dressing room was changed and enlarged as the original was too small for the owners’ expectations
The kitchen was refurbished by reorganizing the furniture and repositioning fixed artifacts and appliances The laundry room was modified by removing the boiler and the water heater from that area and taking these artifacts to a new and spacious machine room. A water heater and the heating water by a boiler separated the service water All the fixed furniture of the home was changed and designed around the kitchen, laundry room, dressing room, storage furniture of the BBQ area space, and sink area. The crucial point was improving the exterior aesthetics, as the client wasn’t delighted. Hence, all front sides of the home were addressed, taking colors and windows into consideration For example, the main door was changed, giving it the hierarchy of a house of such size The windows were expanded towards the street by matching the façade lines, giving it order and coherence, and adding lighting and ventilation without losing privacy.
In brief, although the essence of the project was not wholly altered, it was redefined enough to meet the owner’s needs and correctly address architecturally significant requirements
Project & Sitework Supervision: Arch. Fernando Mendez.
Structural engineering: Grupo Seed (http://www.gruposeed.com.ar/)
Rendering: Ark Renders (https://arkrenders.com/)
PROJECT TYPE: Single Family House - Residential
LOCATION: Neuquén, Neuquén Province, Argentina.
SIZE: 450 m² / 4843 sq. f
YEAR:2020
The housing project is designed all on one floor as a compact and functional block individualizing the two main areas of the house, the private area to the front and towards the back of the social space, taking advantage of the entire width of the land
Both the social and private rooms are separated by a large interior courtyard that crosses the house from north to south, generating privacy and lighting to all the surrounding spaces, including the access corridor with large windows
Access to the house from the street is generated with a large semi-deck that unifies the garage and pedestrian access with a large access gate.
Once inside the house, you can go to the private area, the studio, or the social space from the access hall.
The private area has two standard bedrooms with a three-part compartmentalized bathroom: a sink area, a bathroom, and a shower and bathtub area. The main suite with a spacious dressing room is at the end of the corridor Similar to the secondary bedrooms, it has a compartmentalized bathroom consisting of a sink area, a bathroom, a double shower, and a hydromassage All bedrooms face the front of the plot of land, where a false façade was generated to provide privacy, with the possibility of having large openings toward it
Inside, the bedroom wing is located immediately to the south, with a guest bathroom and a studio that can also be used as a guest room
The access hall culminates in the social area, separating the living room from the dining kitchen through a green space
The living room is spacious, with large windows overlooking the backyard and inner courtyard
The dining kitchen is very spacious, with enough space for a 12-person dining table and a kitchen with a breakfast island and all the built-in appliances. This space connects with a semicovered gallery of the same size, generating a large integral sliding window with a grill and a counter to enjoy the outside. From the semi-covered gallery, you can access the backyard and an outdoor service bathroom within the same semi-covered space.
Project & Sitework supervisión: Arch. Fernando Mendez.
Structural Enginnering: Engr. Marcos Grancagnolo
Sketches & Rendering: Arch. Fernando Mendez
Photoghaphy: Maju Franzan Mauro Ortiz
PROJECT TYPE: Single Family Residence
LOCATION: Cipolletti, Rio Negro Province, Argentina.
SIZE: 340 m² / 3659 sq. f
YEAR:2017
The housing project is organized in two defined stripes, one on the front (to the south) and one at the back (to the north), using as a transition between these the circulations and an internal courtyard, thus organizing the interior space and bringing the green elements inside the house
The first strip contains the accesses, services, and the office/studio, which is physically separated from the social area of the house by means of the internal courtyard, providing privacy and autonomy in use, both for office studio use and as an occasional guest room
The second contains the main social spaces, with views and expansions towards the backyard and the inner courtyard.
The living room has a direct relationship with the internal courtyard and is separate from the dining-kitchen room, which isolates uses and gives privacy to both areas.
On the upper floor, the main areas are sectorized, also determining stripes according to their use and privacy, the east strip (to the left) contains the main suite and its services, and the west strip (to the right) includes the other rooms, the studio, and the benefits
The services are oriented towards the front, and the rooms towards the north, ensuring good lighting, sunshine, privacy, and views
As for the façade, the house expresses solidity, so it is decided to work with light colors and differentiate the volume through texture, achieving simplicity and warmth
The direct front to the street has few windows favoring security and privacy but ensuring presence and hierarchy with an access gate that unifies the foyer with the semicovered surface for vehicles The green elements are a distinguishing mark between the two areas of access to the house
The rear façade, on the contrary, opens entirely to the patio favoring sunlight, natural light, and ventilation.
