Budget Breakdown: A Buenos Aires Couple Build an Airy
Friday, Mar 20, 2026

Budget Breakdown: A Buenos Aires Couple Build an Airy Live/Work Home Atop Mom’s Office for $153K

Flooding from a rainstorm during construction was a tense moment, they admit, but it only brought them closer together.

Five years after Agustina Andreani Ghiglione and Nicolás Waldman started dating, they decided the time had come to move in together. Agustina’s mother, Carla Ghiglione, had built a small one-bedroom rental flat on top of her office in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Núñez, and suggested they might like to move into the flat.


Architects Nicolás Waldman and Agustina Ghiglione converted the vertical space above Agustina’s mother’s office into an airy live/work space where they can run their architecture studio and invite friends over for <i>asado</i> on the terrace.

At first, the idea was that they would make some minor repairs. But when the couple visited the property, they immediately saw that the space above Carla’s office had potential. "When we came to see it, I said, Hey, let’s see what the deal is, because this is actually a really nice place with great views, the area is great, let’s see what we can do," Nicolás says.

Carla was open to the idea of them developing a more ambitious project. So, as architects and design professors, they got to work sketching out plans for a home where they could live, work, play, and host their extensive group of family and friends.

$2,978
Site Work
$21,804
Metal Structure
(including roof)
$4,601
Walls
(Retak Brick)
$11,610
Wall Finishes
$5,425
Paint
$21,150
Flooring
$7,076
Hardware
$5,435
Electrical
$5,196
Plumbing
$2,120
Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
$900
Lighting
$1,905
Countertops
$2,061
Appliances
$11,225
Windows & Glazing
$14,127
Millwork
(including kitchen cabinetry)
$600
Tilework
$35,000
General Contractor Fee

Grand Total: $153,213

The couple’s studio is on the first floor. The pendant is by Clic, and the table is by Estudio Te.

The studio connects with the living area via a broad staircase that joins the spaces vertically and guides visitors upwards to the social heart of the house.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: A Buenos Aires Couple Build an Airy Live/Work Home Atop Mom’s Office for $153K
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By: Amy Booth
Title: Budget Breakdown: A Buenos Aires Couple Build an Airy Live/Work Home Atop Mom’s Office for $153K
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-ph-nunez-uno-nicolas-waldman-agustina-andreani-ghiglione-d816f716
Published Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:02:18 GMT