Art Nouveau in Buenos Aires

One of the most important Art Nouveau architects in Buenos Aires at the turn of the 20th Century was Julian Garcia Nuñez. His distintive architecture broke away from the traditional academic style and favored the use of different textures and colors, iron work, geometric forms, patterns and lines that reflect flowers and nature.

He built most of his work between 1906 and 1920 and while some of his buildings no longer stand, many can still be found around the place. Because Art Nouveau was a radical new style of architecture it was not adopted by the government, and the buildings were not constructed in the very centre of the city. As the city of Buenos Aires expanded and now approx. 100 years on, many Art Nouveau buildings are hidden in the back streets of different neighbourhoods.

This first building I have included was completed in 1913 by Garcia Nuñez as a Casa de Rentas or apartment building and stands in a back street at Sáenz Peña 274 near the Plaza de Congreso.

 This last photo shows the architect's signature "J Garcia Arq. 1913" which he used to mark all of his buildings in the early part of his career.