New York architect ODA has unveiled its redesign of a derelict multistorey carpark in Buenos Aires as a park and office building.
The crumbling Paseo Gigena will be replaced with offices, cafés, restaurants, retail space, an open-air promenade and a 250-space parking lot.
Gigena is located between the Argentino de Palermo racecourse (it is named after a jockey fatally injured in a race) and El Rosedal de Palermo park. The idea is to create a 40,000 sq ft green walkway that swoops up either side of the building to a landscaped roof.
Álvaro García Resta, Buenos Aires’ secretary of urban development, said: “We have an abandoned concrete infrastructure that does not speak at all with its surroundings nor is it useful for the city and its inhabitants.
“The treatment given to these open air gardens is that of a wild landscape with native flora. But it won’t be a park made to contemplate, it will be a dynamic area to stroll and explore.”
Eran Chen, ODA’s founder, commented: “This project is a great example of the private sector working with the government to create a truly unique typology that will benefit the city and its citizens for decades to come.
“These types of partnerships are the future. It’s ambitious and takes bravery and bold leadership on all fronts, but when this is completed we will have a park that will become an icon for the city, and quite possibly the coolest office building in the southern hemisphere. If you want to get people back to work, then we need to be thinking like this.”
Partial demolition of the old structure began in June. ODA is acting as design architect, with Aisenson Studio as executive architect. It being developed by Argentinian and US company BSD Investments.
Images courtesy of ODA/Secchi Smith
