Design in Buenos Aires

Design in Buenos Aires
What type of design do we associate with Argentina and with Buenos Aires in particular?

Well, the Argentines are justly famous for good form in the tango, body sculpting and beef filet.

But modern design isn't something that springs immediately to mind.

So, assuming that we don't know as much as we think we do, I headed south last month for a look around.

Even with only tourist magazine articles as a guide, two notable examples of design in Buenos Aires stood out immediately: Santiago Calatrava's Puente de la Mujer bridge (2001) and the new Philippe Starck Faena Hotel + Universe, both in the same developing wharf district.

The bridge is a unique and elegant structure, but the dark water stains on its base were so obvious and visually jarring that they seriously detracted from the sublime nature of the form.

I subsequently learned that there are issues surrounding the maintenance of the bridge, with various parties avoiding responsibility for its upkeep.

Sadly, the lack of dedicated stewardship registered with me almost as much as the form of the bridge itself.

The Faena Hotel offered a different commentary on modern design, namely, that it can often look pretty much the same whether you are in North or South America.