Nicole Neighborhood Safe House

The Safe House, or 'Gender House' as the locals also call it, is a place that offers accommodation, support, and companionship to women and transgender people facing domestic violence.

place Virrey de Pino, La Matanza. Buenos Aires, province. Argentina. ARG 003
Surface 150 mts.2 Date Finished:
December 1, 2019.
Phase In use. Type Social housing.
Target Group Women. Partner Scarcity and Creativity Studio (SCS) - AHO.
Client Asociacion Civil 26 de Julio. Donor Equality Foundation, Lund & Slatto Arkitekter, Holt. Nordic.
Tecnology Use of wood, sourcing local materias, self-construction.

1. Observe.

Why, context, challenge.

Lack of housing

AUG and The Scarcity and Creativity Studio teamed up to design and build a social house prototype for the Nicole Neighbourhood. The neighbourhood originated when homeless people invaded the site 20 years ago. It currently has a population of about 6000 inhabitants and has built a school, a health station, a church, water infrastructure and has extended a bus line to provide public transportation. 

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Sociological accompaniment

This process of local territorial urbanization was realized with the support of sociologists and the community organization "26 de Julio". It refers to providing support, guidance, and monitoring from a sociological perspective.It involved observing and analyzing social dynamics, relationships, and issues to ensure an initiative to addresses the community's needs effectively.

The incremental house

The goal would be to design and build a house prototype to fit the plots within the urban layout designd by AUG.This prototype is one of the 98 houses scheduled in the masterplan for the 30 000m2 plot developed.The area is subject to regular flooding of up to 70 cms, this is the reason why the house needs to be raised a meter off the ground.The plan for the Phases is that residents would be provided with Phase 1, which consists of 25 m2 and includes a bedroom, living-dining-kitchen, and a bathroom. Phase 1 also includes the main structure of Phases 2 and 3, making it possible for these last two phases to be self-built as, and when, the family has the resources to do it.The resident’s association ‘26 de Julio’ decided to use the house as a place where abused women could take regfuge, as at present women suffering from domestic violence have no where to go.  

2. Identify.

Who, target, user, facts.

Surface

246

246 women, travestites and trans suffered violent deaths in 2023 in Argentina.

Surface

168

168 kids and teenagers to be left without their mother.

Surface

26hr

A crime of this type happens every 26 hours on average.

3. Approach.

How, strategy, interact

Community involvement

Community involvementOne of the unique aspects of the project was its focus on community involvement from the design to the building phase. The design was developed through a semester-long course, where students from AHO,School of Architecture of Oslo. worked alongside professionals from AUG and Nicole’s community in order to design the housing prototype.This initiative sparked a fantastic cultural exchange between locals and students, creating meaningful connections and strengthening community bonds. While building phase, women from the neighborhood played a vital role by preparing meals for the students and workers, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and unity.The Incremental House Prototype stands as a testament to what can be achieved when diverse groups come together to address housing needs in an inclusive and sustainable way.

Design

4. Design.

Programmering, development, co-create.

The house is a one story building with a mezzanine whith additional bed spaces. Outdoor spaces are small, with area for crops and a ‘parrilla’, the Argentinian BBQ which is an essential part of family and social gatherings.The design consists of three stages. At the ends of the house are the sleeping accommodation and in the center the Kitchen-dining-living room, which extends to the outside under a pergola. Most spaces are flexible, in order to contribute to housing large extended families.

The construction: The construction phase itself took just 37 days, completed by a dedicated team of 21 students from AHO, 2 teachers, 2 members from AUG, and 4 local builders.This rapid development was possible thanks to strong local collaboration, with materials sourced from nearby companies, ensuring both sustainability and support for the local economy. 

5. Implement.

Work in the field.

At AUG, we uphold the highest standards of integrity. We prevent dishonesty, corruption, and misconduct in all operations. Every donation is used responsibly to support communities, always impartially, without favoring any political party or religion.

Design

6. Evaluate.

Results.

Graphic

UN sustainability goals

Graphic
Ste visit by sociologist & architect
03/17
AHO architects students on board
07/19
Drawing Design Delivered
08/19
Budget & Founding
11/19
CONSTRUCTION start
11/19
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
12/29

Who participate

Quique Bayarri Sabariego

Quique Bayarri Sabariego

Architect - Project Achitect - quique@augnorge.org
Quique Bayarri holds a degree in architecture from the Universitat Politècnica de València, with additional studies in Delft, Madrid, and Granada. Quique has extensive and solid experience at Norwegian architectural firms, ranging from concept development to the execution phase of both residential and office buildings. He has been collaborating with Architects Without Borders Norway (AUG) since 2017 and has been a board member since 2018. He is equally dedicated to finding the best concept for a project as he is to its expression through detailed construction work. With a particular interest in sustainable architecture and construction techniques, he firmly believes that architecture must be influenced by the place where it is built and designed with a primary focus on the users. Quique uses photography as an active tool to explore architecture and the reality around us.
Paola Bornaschella

Paola Bornaschella

Architect - Design Director - paola@augnorge.org
Paola holds a master’s degree in architecture from the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Urbanism at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Paola has a solid experience in architectural design across all phases and scales—from small private buildings to large, complex projects such as masterplans, healthcare facilities, and multifunctional buildings. Paola is a founder, the current design director, and board member of AUG. She is passionate about social architecture. Guided by the belief that architecture is a powerful tool for social change, she advocates for inclusive design that fosters safety, dignity, and equal opportunity—especially in communities where it's needed most.
Nerina Gomez

Nerina Gomez

Architect
Melina Cauchich

Melina Cauchich

Architect - Local Architect - melina@augnorge.org
Melina Cauchich is an architect with complementary training in Fine Arts and extensive experience in planning and executing civil works, gained through more than ten years of work in architectural firms and the infrastructure department of a multinational company. Since 2016, she has been part of Architects Without Borders, playing a key role as a liaison between local communities in Argentina and the team of architects in Norway (AUG). Her work focuses on identifying needs, developing comprehensive projects, and supporting their implementation—always prioritizing collaboration and a positive social impact in favor of sustainable and inclusive architecture.
Walter Bosisio

Walter Bosisio

Sociologist
Isabel Lopez Ruiz

Isabel Lopez Ruiz

Architect - isabel@grape.no
Isabel Ruiz is an architect from Spain, based in Oslo since 2009. Her Mediterranean background has shaped a strong interest in public life, urban culture, and the role of inclusive spaces in creating meaningful everyday environments. She holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Urbanism from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, complemented by a postmaster in mapping and advanced training in analytical tools such as ArcGIS.Her work focuses on the intersection between social sustainability, feminist architecture, and urban development. Isabel is particularly interested in how design processes can amplify diverse voices and address inequalities in the built environment. Through her involvement with Architects Without Borders, she contributed to a project in Ethiopia, where participatory methods and local knowledge were central to the design approach.Isabel combines research, analysis, and practice to develop strategies that prioritize care, inclusion, and lived experience. She is also co-founder and chair of InnoArch, promoting innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in architecture.

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