In a city where every street has its own sign and every neighborhood has its own distinct identity, there are still corners that seem strange. to the rhythm of CABA. Among them is one Mini neighborhood formed a single block with unnamed interior passageways and a architecture that was recorded in another century.
This small sector, historically known as The colonyeither Colonia Obrera San Vicente de Paulhas a special history that distinguishes it from the rest of the city complex.
Her low housesits central tower and its Courtyards They coexist with the noise of the nearby avenues, but maintain an intimate, almost village atmosphere not found in other parts of the city. City of Buenos Aires.
Although it appears on maps today as part of a recognized district of the capital, The essence of La Colonia dates back to its origins more than a hundred years agowhen it was officially inaugurated by a president and conceived as a pioneering social project for the time.
The colony is located within a single apple delimited by Traful, Albert Einstein, Cachi and Gutiérrez, near New Pompeii. There is this small network of unnamed interior corridors, low houses and a central tower that became his distinctive trademark.
At first glance it looks like an ordinary residential complex, but as soon as you enter it is noticeable does not follow usual CABA logic in view of this There are no street names, the entrances are on curves and corners, and the passageways are just the right size for pedestrian life.
The story of The colony begins October 17, 1912Date of inauguration in the presence of the President Roque Saenz Pena. The project was sponsored by the Jockey Club in collaboration with the Vicentine Ladies, one of the most active charities of the early 20th century.
The draft was responsible Architect Vicente Frigerio Alvarezwho envisioned a social housing complex arranged around courtyards with a central tower that would serve as a point of reference for neighbors. The apple contains:
At the top of the tower was a clock that marked the quarter hour with a chime, a sound signal that determined daily life in the neighborhood for decades. However, there was a community library on the ground floor. And behind the tower, almost hidden, remains a small altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The entire interior layout was designed as a network of pedestrian passages. And since they emerged not from urban planning but from private social work, they were never given official names, a rarity that continues to this day.
Over time, The colony It survived the decades of growth in Buenos Aires without losing its original logic. In recognition of its cultural value, it was declared a monument in 1997 Historic Protected Area (APH)which guaranteed the preservation of its structure, its original aesthetics and the protection of its central tower with clock.
This statement explained why The colony It has not been changed, expanded or demolished. Its appearance was practically intact, transforming it into an open-air museum for building social projects at the beginning of the 20th century.
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