London-based architecture practice OF Studio has completed a striking brutalist concrete house called "Brutal Honesty" on a mountainside in Mendoza, Argentina. The 6,146-square-foot residence features a dramatic cantilevered terrace and sloped foundations that appear to grow directly from the canyon terrain where it sits.
The ambitious project took six years to complete, finishing in 2024 on the edge of a canyon with panoramic views of the Andean desert mountains. OF Studio, co-founded in 2017 by Argentinian architects Valentina Cerrone and Sebastián Andia, designed the house to reflect what they call "the raw presence, texture, and silence of the mountain itself."
"The house emerges naturally from the terrain, shaping a landscape that coexists with its surroundings," Andia explained. "We worked with material honesty, tectonics, and integrated sustainability, letting the architecture grow from the site itself." The architects described their approach as creating something that looks like "abstract rock formations" rising from the earth.
The house's unique design features earth-colored retaining walls that splay outward to define the building's tapering shape while protecting it from the harsh southern exposure of the canyon. The splaying walls also drove the organization of interior partitions and the three main outdoor terraces that extend from the living spaces.
Structurally, the 571-square-meter home is organized into three distinct levels that take advantage of the sloping site. The basement level sits inside the earth, a partially embedded ground floor serves as the main living area, and an upper level rises dramatically out of the terrain. This stacked arrangement provides 360-degree views of the surrounding Andean landscape.
The kitchen serves as the heart of the home, with communal spaces branching outward at rounded angles to create flowing interior spaces. Living and dining rooms extend onto terraces on either side of the house, while a separate terrace off the playroom provides dedicated outdoor space for children. The design culminates in shared rooftop spaces that offer areas for both recreation and relaxation surrounded by the dramatic mountain landscape.
Architectural details include rounded rectangular awnings with structural rods along the upper plateau edges that provide shade for the lower terraces while adding delicate detail to the otherwise massive concrete structure. The clients emphasized the importance of living harmoniously with the land while maintaining both expansive views and privacy.
"The project is about creating spaces that feel sincere, connect people, and let you experience the environment as part of everyday life," Andia said. The architects chose exposed concrete specifically for its resonance with local building materials and craftspeople, carefully matching the earth tones of the surrounding site.
Sustainability played a crucial role in the design, with the team incorporating thermal insulation, strategic shading, and natural ventilation systems to reduce energy demands. Solar panels and solar heaters provide renewable energy, while a greywater system enhances the home's environmental performance. "This attention to materiality anchors the house in place, both visually and symbolically," the design team explained.
The architects view the completed project as more than just a residence, describing it as "a built extension of the mountain – a space for living that neither conceals nor embellishes, but exists in open dialogue with its surroundings." They emphasized that the design "celebrates nature's raw presence through architecture that is both sincere and grounded."
Brutal Honesty joins a growing collection of innovative concrete homes recently completed across Argentina, including a subterranean forest residence with a garden roof by Gonzalo Bardach near Buenos Aires, a black concrete home in Córdoba by AR Arquitectos, and a blocky house overlooking a golf course in Rosario by Mariano Fiorentini. The project was photographed by Luis Abba and involved extensive collaboration with local engineers, sustainability consultants, and craftspeople throughout its six-year construction process.
