It is common to see it on social networks: a photo of an old house with a for sale sign and many worry about the probable demolition. In recent years, the dizzying construction in the city of Buenos Aires has taken many good architectural works from another time. But not all developers think of demolition as the only option. A litter of projects is emerging that choose to embrace these constructions and combine them with other modern ones, tending a bridge between past and future. Although not everyone is satisfied with the result, its defenders argue that this is not harmful the architectural heritage.
Traditional Recoleta
In the heart of Recoleta, Oneto Gaona House dazzles with his story. It was acquired in 1911 by the marriage of Juan Oneto and Regina Gaona to Tomás Le Bretón, founder of the Unión Cívica de la Juventud (which would later become the UCR). Previously smaller, it was modified and enlarged by the architect Carlos Malbranche (who designed Palacio Saint) to become a construction that stands out among other residences in the neighborhood. Located on Uruguay between Arenales and Santa Fe, it is a clear exponent of French academicism.
Over the years and with the growth of the Oneto Gaona family (the couple had only one child, but he later had 12), the mansion was transformed. And these days it is facing a new renewal. It was recently acquired by Tao Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, which convened to the architecture studio Lacroze Miguens Prati to carry out the project. This proposes the construction of a 12-story tower attached to the dividing wall and facing the house, in which there will be room for 58 apartments with one, two and three rooms. Also, 20 garages, amenities and common spaces, as well as two shops with access from the street and a gastronomic venue on the semi-public walk of the garden. In the main house there will be 16 smaller units, with one or two rooms.
The expertise of the Lacroze Miguens Prati studio has already been proven in the project Aberg Cobo House, in Las Heras 1722, also in Recoleta. Here a residence from 1912 was restored and valued, adapting the rooms to the uses of modern life, while a 10-story building with an offer of lofts and studios was built towards the end of the land. “The heritage is intact. Everything of value was kept; the façade was restored with a specialized company, the large stairs, the original elevator and the ground floor were recovered and reused today”, says José Ignacio Miguens, partner of the studio. The rest of the interior was adapted to new functions and real estate structures (a third floor that was only laundry rooms and service rooms, for example, was converted into housing units, but kept the same windows and carpentry facing the street).
“Something interesting is that the new building cannot be seen from the street, because it was removed, keeping the distance from the courtyard. We are always interested in trying to maintain the volumes of the house”, points out the expert. Therefore, the first care for him when embarking on these endeavors is to consider that the terrain allows that respectful distance. “There are projects that are abusive and others that are sensible, that solve the places well”, he marks.
Lawsuits and objections
But society sometimes raises its doubts regarding this style. towards Belgrano, the Roccatagliata Palace he had to get over the neighborhood concern. He spent three years in custody because of two appeals that argued, among other issues, that the house was not protected or the regulations of the urban code were not complied with. The demands were rejected in the first, second and third instance.
What continues to be built today at a steady pace are two towers of 28 and 13 floors for offices and apartments from 2 and 3 rooms to 5 bedrooms with dependence. Ahead is the palace, built for the family of the same name in the early 1900s by the architect Francisco Gianotti, who also designed the emblematic El Molino café. This construction, which will be preserved and valued, will become an events room and restaurant, and will be part of the amenities of the venture. “The objective was always to make a differential project that has the nuances of a country, but in the height and in the city, close to the main accesses and with a lot with access to three streets,” they detail from the project.
On why they chose to contrast the building with a modern construction, they point out that while the palace is the star, the open views and comfort of the units have more to do with life today. “The magic of the project is the combination of the latest technologies with the elegance of the palace”, they summarize.
a delicate balance
Lhe real estate Izrastzoff have been marketing this type of project for some years. Among them, they have sold units in Casa Aberg Cobo, Arenales 1556 and San Isidro Loft. Asked about what they think a venture of this caliber should have to guarantee harmony between tradition and modernity, they point to a certain perception. “It seems obvious, but not every architect has the sensitivity to do a work of this type with solvency. There are a large number of aspects to take care of, such as the harmony and scales established between the volumes, the materials used in the aggregate and the impact on the availability of light on the original building”, reasons Iuri Izrastzoff, partner.
At the same time, it distinguishes this type of architectural pairing instead of the attempt to emulate those constructions. “There is no longer a way to replicate a style with the quality of the materials with which it was built 100 years ago. And if it were possible, it would not be profitable economically ”, he points out. In addition, Izrastzoff understands, almost from a philosophical side, that architecture must respect the spirit of its time. “An architect is a person and a professional who is summoned to contribute their own thoughts, reflections and ideas. Imitation of styles from the past would undermine you as a professional.”
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