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 bereterbide
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.
Read More »housing for the masses: barrio alvear 1, 1923
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.
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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, 1914
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 chorizo