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musings & more…

buenos aires: estanislao pirovano, neotudor

Buenos Aires, Retiro, Estanislao Pirovano, Biblioteca Ricardo Güiraldes

Estanislao Pirovano’s most prolific style, Neotudor or Tudor Revival found fans around the world. I even found lots of it in Bogotá. Popular roughly during the same time as Art Deco, architects replicated simple, English country homes & often added local influences to make an eclectic mix. Pirovano excelled at combining four-centered arches, wooden doors, bay windows, fanciful columns, faux coats-of-arms & mythical/real beasts… very unique in Buenos Aires & something upper-class porteños wanted.

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buenos aires: estanislao pirovano, biography

Buenos Aires, Recoleta, Estanislao Pirovano, Escuela Argentina Modelo

As a major metropolitan area with such a rich & undeniably unique architectural heritage, much remains to be discovered in Buenos Aires. The city hides plenty of secrets. Less-transited areas often have beautiful buildings designed by formerly popular architects… who have now fallen into oblivion. Plans disappear, some works are demolished, and no one even records when they were born or when they died.

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found: view of buenos ayres

Buenos Ayres, engraving

The above engraving of Buenos Aires by John Byrns can be found in the Museo de la Patagonia in Bariloche. Problem is, I can’t identify where this view would be today. My guess is somewhere downtown due to the number of churches visible. Would that be the arroyo where Calle Chile is today? Or is the bluff Parque Lezama?

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buenos aires: encaustic tiles

Provincia de Buenos Aires, Saavedra, ayuntamiento, encaustic tiles

Mystery solved.

For years, I noticed a non-ceramic tile used on the floor of most older churches in downtown Buenos Aires. Those tiles retain their color despite heavy wear, the designs are unique & colors seem muted, earthy. Somehow I always forgot to check into it. But during a visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London a couple months ago, my questions were answered.

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buenos aires: becoming a doctor

Buenos Aires, Recoleta, Facultad de Medicina

Becoming a doctor… no, not me. Just because I’m recently unemployed doesn’t mean I’ve lost my mind. Besides, I’m too old. Seriously. But at one time I was on my way to becoming a doctor. Instead, I decided to use my biochem degree to get a job… & the rest is history. But this post isn’t about me. It’s about Gabriel.

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