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Architecture and Urbanism
Los Andes Park Neighbourhood, Chacarita, City of Buenos Aires
First collective house built for workers and government employees in 1927
A great number of immigrants who arrived in Argentina at the beginning of the 20th century stayed in the City of Buenos Aires trying to take advantage of the employment possibilities, which were more abundant than in the countryside.
The number of immigrants was such that the housing structure of the City of Buenos Aires was rapidly saturated, and the tenement houses turned to be the natural solution to the housing problem.
At this point, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires decided to create housing for workers. It is then that the first collective housing for workers and government employees was constructed, during the Government of Luis Maria Cantilo, based on the project of the Architect Fermin H. Beretervide.
The founding stone, in which it can be read: “First Collective Housing”, was placed in 1927 and the inauguration was on October 6, 1928.
Maria Eufemia Sasone, the first tenant, told "El Pais que no Miramos" ("The Country we have not Seen", a series of documentaries for television produced by Ivan Grondona), that not many people was interested in living there since a burning waste dump, that could still be seen in the city maps in 1975, was located in Concepcion Arenal Street.
The park that can be seen today over Guzman Street was, in those times, brushwood.
Taxis refused to enter the neighbourhood. Since government employees were not interested in living in Los Andes Park neighbourhood, it was offered to railway employees, who were not interested either. Consequently, the offer was made public, offering the apartments for rent through pubic raffles that were announced in the newspapers.
The apartments located on the ground floor were 50 pesos, the ones on the second and third floors were 60 pesos, and the ones that had the pergolas, which were 5 room apartments, were rented at 90 pesos.
There were 153 apartments in the neighbourhood distributed in 16 blocks, with a theatre (that was later turned into a library) a periodical room, and 7,100 metres of park.
Dances were held in the neighbourhood, hosting Francisco Canaro, Mercedes Simone and many other famous musicians who played for free because one of the neighbours was Miguel Calo’s brother.
When in 1969 the horizontal property law was issued, the tenants were considered first for the sale of the apartments.
See programe on Los Andes Park Neighbourhood by El Pais que no Miramos" ("The Country we have not Seen")
About this article...
Author of the article: Grondona Olmi, Verónica
Sources employed:
- "El Pais que no Miramos" ("The Country we have not Seen"), a series of documentaries for television produced by Ivan Grondona. Archivo General de la Nacion ("Argentina's National Archive"), video 32, programme 15.
- www.observatur.edu.ar/index.php
Translated by: Veronica Grondona
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