By 1900 Buenos Aires was one of the twelve world capitals with finest architecture. In terms of growth, Buenos Aires was the third behind Hamburg and Chicago.

From 1880 to 1930, the city of Buenos Aires went through a major makeover –unparalleled elsewhere-. There are over 200 buildings and sculptured monuments, including parks and avenues, included in the World’s patrimony list.

The main European style prevailing throughout those years was to be complemented during the early 20s with innovative styles such as Art nouveau and Art Deco. While these cosmopolitan styles developed, some local architects had also created what they described as “an nationalist architecture” invoking a sort of national style linked to some Spaniard and colonial styles, and the new and modern Buenos Aires neoplaterismo.

The city’s functional architecture evolved with its economy. Early in the 1900, La Boca and Barracas were the city’s main working class neighborhoods, filled with doss houses known as conventillos: colorful constructions made from metal and wood. The 1940s and the increase in number of the porteñan working class would bring to the architectonic scene mono-block serialized buildings specially around Saavedra, Chacabuco and Lugano.

The 1960s and 1970s were years of innovation in design and aesthetic linked to nature and prime materials revalued and exposed in all its basic and beautiful features. Organic and functionality is a duel that prevails in the constructions of that time.

From the 80s to today, the eclectic feel of the city prevails, and ultra modern high rises are the main output. The late 90s and the new millennium, following a worldwide trend, express a return to some basic aesthetics, remodeling and recovering high quality constructions from demolition, in vintage modern buildings.

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