By Catherine A. Cardno, Ph.D.
Construction has begun on a large-scale, mixed-use project in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that will turn an abandoned, aging concrete parking garage into indoor-outdoor civic space with visually flowing lines.
Known as Paseo Gigena, the building will reuse 80% of the original structure as part of its re-creation as a 160,000 sq ft space. Cutouts in the parking structure’s top level and a new, distinctive circular tower will create a fluid, modern design that is all but unrecognizable as the city-owned parking garage that the structure once was.
Located between a park, El Rosedal de Palermo, and a racetrack, the Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo, the three-level parking garage will form the basis of the renovated building’s lower floors.
Once complete, the building will include more than 40,000 sq ft of public terraces, paths, and green spaces as well as offices, cafes, restaurants, retail, and a sheltered 250-car parking lot.
As part of the project, a walking path in the park will be extended up a ramp up the side of the building and onto and over the landscaped roof before it ramps down the other side of the building to connect again with the park path.
The rooftop amenities are meant to merge, through nature, the public park areas with the office areas.
The design team includes ODA as design architect, Aisenson Studio as executive architect, ODA and Inscape Landscapeas landscape architects, developer BSD Investments, and contractor Coinsa. (The city has granted BSD a land lease of 15 years, extendable by five years, for the site.)
Work on the project began in June. The project is expected to be complete by next summer.
A flyby video of the planned project is also available.
