Architecture of Argentina

Apart from what is called " Mar del Plata style ", there is no typical in Argentina Argentine architecture. Unlike other countries in South America are seen as the natives of Argentina mainly lived as nomads in Argentina just a few examples of pre- Columbian buildings.

Pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial

One of the oldest examples of architecture in Argentina Pucara de Tilcara is the - an about 900 year old fortified village of Tilcara Indians. It is located above the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy province, in northwestern Argentina.

Only with the colonization of Argentina permanent buildings were built in greater numbers, including many church buildings and the so-called Jesuit reductions, which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the most famous examples of this is San Ignacio Miní, located north-east of Posadas. The first settlers after the second conquest in 1580 initially lived in a modest one-story adobe houses that are no longer preserved. For Spanish colonial architecture of later years especially Salta is known.

The urban architecture experienced its first boom in the 18th century, after Buenos Aires 1776 was declared the capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. From this time, the Cabildo, the seat of government is derived. Formerly built with eleven arches, he has now only five, the others had to make way for the road.

19th century

The second boom experienced the Argentine architecture in the 19th century, when in Buenos Aires, but also in Córdoba and Rosario magnificent streets like Avenida de Mayo or the Avenida Alvear were created and Come to prosperity individuals to build villas on the French model could. Today there are in these villas often embassy or corporate offices, others have been converted to museums, such as the Palacio Errazuriz, the Palacio Paz or the Palacio Ferreyra. These streets and buildings owes Buenos Aires today its reputation as the "Paris of South America" ​​.

Private homes population of the simpler we can still see in San Telmo, the so-called "Casa Chorizo ​​" (engl.: " sausage houses, because of their narrow and elongated back design). The most famous is the Casa Mínima on Calle San Lorenzo with two meters wide. The Palermo Viejo recalls with its low " Propiedades Horizontal " from that time until today, more to a small because of a city of millions.

Among the public buildings that were built in this time include Catedral Metropolitana in Buenos Aires with its nave from the 18th and the facade of the 19th century. From 1889 comes the thought to be a department store, now known as the Galerias Pacifico shopping center in the Beaux Arts style with beautiful ceiling paintings. In 1894 the pumping station of Buenos Aires, the Palacio de Aguas Corriente was completed in Balvanera. The building in the French Renaissance style is adorned with glazed over 300,000, polychrome terracotta tiles of the British company Royal Doulton.

20th to 21st century

At the beginning of the 20th century swept the Art Nouveau from France to Argentina. Surviving examples are in Buenos Aires Confitería del Molino at the Plaza del Congreso and the hotel Chile on Avenida de Mayo. 1908, the Teatro Colón was opened, which was built in an eclectic style with elements of the Italian Renaissance and French Baroque.

1923 was the first skyscraper in Argentina, the Palacio Barolo, named after its builder, was inaugurated. With its 22 floors, it was at the time the tallest building in South America and remained the tallest building in Buenos Aires until 1935.

From the 1950s, the faceless apartment blocks and high-rise buildings increased. Examples that swam against this trend are the Banco de Londres and the Biblioteca Nacional of Clorindo Testa. The latter was designed in 1962 but only opened 30 years later. Another striking example of architecture of this period is the Edificio Alas, an office block in the style of modernity.

After the seaside resort south of Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata - style is named. It stands for one-to two -storey detached houses, which can be more reminiscent of California because of Argentina.

Since the 1990s, the former Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires is revived. The long vacant goods stores were converted into office space, galleries and restaurants, open spaces built on. Were involved in the reconstruction of the district and are internationally renowned architects such as Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster and Philippe Starck. From Calatrava comes the Puente de la Mujer, Starck transformed a former mill around in the Hotel Faena. The end of 2008, the museum was inaugurated Colección Fortabat.

The tallest building in Buenos Aires is still the Torre Cavia with 173 meters of 2009. He is part of the Le Parc Figueroa Alcorta complex. In 2015 the Alvear Tower is completed, to be 250 feet high.