immigration woes
Being a foreigner is never easy, but inflexible bureaucracy never helps foreigners feel welcome. In my experience, both First & Third World nations are very… Read More »immigration woes
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housing for the masses: unbuilt bereterbide
Something that caught my eye while I was researching the history of BA housing is the large number of projects that were never built. Lots of factors prevented plans from becoming a reality… lack of funds, disagreement over execution, problems purchasing land, excessive construction costs, or even international conflicts. Take your pick. So when I come across plans of projects that could have been, it’s a bit like discovering a time capsule.
Read More »housing for the masses: unbuilt bereterbidehousing for the masses: barrio parque los andes, 1928
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
That must have been Fermín Bereterbide’s motto. Shortly after constructing his first housing project in the neighborhood of Flores, he won another city-sponsored contest for three more developments. Futuristically named “Alpha,” “Beta,” & “Gamma,” only the first was built. The others were destined for Palermo & Flores, but never became more than plans on paper… definitely a loss for Buenos Aires.
Read More »housing for the masses: barrio parque los andes, 1928housing for the masses: la mansión de flores, 1924
La Mansión de Flores, 1924 • Flores
Yerbal & Gavilán
Social do-gooder architect Fermín Bereterbide didn’t waste much time. After graduating in 1918, his first major contest win was only 2 years later for a housing project to be located in Flores, sponsored by the Unión Popular Católica Argentina. But winning the contest didn’t mean it was built right away. The UPCA had to find land at an affordable price, & they finally found what they were looking for… right by the railroad tracks. As part of a purchase/donation, half of a city block was available for Bereterbide’s winning design in 1923. Construction took less than one year.
Read More »housing for the masses: la mansión de flores, 1924housing for the masses: fermín bereterbide
One architect stood out among all others during the era when social housing projects were being built in Buenos Aires. Due to political beliefs, he was ostracized from the academic community & died in obscurity in 1979. Only since his death has he been given the attention & recognition which he deserves…
Read More »housing for the masses: fermín bereterbidehousing for the masses: barrio alvear 1, 1923
Barrio Alvear I, 1923 • Parque Avellaneda
Avenida Juan B. Alberdi & Avenida Olivera
This area is a bit confusing & takes some imagination to understand. But we’ll figure it out together.
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Barrio Cafferata, 1921 • Parque Chacabuco
Avenida José M. Moreno & Salas
For all the private donations & construction projects I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the federal Comisión Nacional de Casas Baratas (CNCB) had only one building complete by 1920. Large tracts of land purchased by the government sat empty while legislators debated on the best (& most affordable) way to build housing projects. I’m not sure whether it was embarrassment at their years of inaction or merely a decision to experiment, but the early 1920’s were a busy time for the CNCB.
Read More »housing for the masses: barrio cafferata, 1921housing for the masses: microbarrio la colonia, 1914
Microbarrio La Colonia, 1914 • Parque Patricios
Cachí & José A. Cortejarena
Initially I hadn’t planned on writing about this particular housing project, but Friday I spent a couple hours at the Instituto Histórico & found an article about it written by their staff in 1987. Since there is relatively little info anywhere else about this, I thought I’d post it for anyone who might be interested.
Read More »housing for the masses: microbarrio la colonia, 1914housing for the masses: casa chorizo
Of the many different solutions proposed & built to solve the Argentine housing crisis, it’s easy to forget how innovative they really were. We’re used to seeing modern versions as apartment complexes & condominiums. Big deal. But it was the first time that they had ever been built in Argentina. One hundred years ago in Buenos Aires, none of those types of living quarters existed. Zero.
Read More »housing for the masses: casa chorizohousing for the masses: microbarrio monseñor espinosa, 1923
Microbarrio Monseñor Espinosa, 1923 • Barracas
Perdriel & California
Contrasting greatly with the previous complex, these semi-detached chalets are like a little piece of paradise. Also built with fundraising money from the Unión Popular Católica Argentina, land was donated by the Pereyra Iraola & Herrera Vega families. Gardens cut through 60 units in a cross shape, & note that this is not the size of a city block… but it’s about half of an overly large block. In fact, the odd shape is due to following the diagonal line of the existing layout. Designed by Carlos Cucullu, it has been wonderfully maintained & I would love to live there.
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