Valois Building: Rammed Earth Collective Housing in Asunción

The Valois Building, a collective housing project by an unnamed architecture firm, has been completed in the Las Mercedes neighborhood of Asunción, Paraguay. The structure is built on a small plot (8.40 m x 25 m) using rammed earth (tapial), a technique traditionally seen as rural, here proposed as a contemporary urban solution. The building is set back from the street to create a public space, with a perforated facade and a central earthen core. Apartments are separated by a stair block and topped with a terrace offering views of the neighborhood, the Chaco landscape, and the Paraguay River. A metal mesh covered with native climbing plants acts as a green mantle, filtering light and providing natural protection from sun and rain. The design aims for minimal impact on the traditional Asunción neighborhood, addressing subtropical climate challenges and incorporating local artisans skilled in the technique.