In Buenos Aires downtown, at Calle Florida 165, we can find Galeria Güemes (Güemes Gallery - the first gallery of Buenos Aires), among several others at the same street. Its entrance is blended among the great diversity of shops at the street. But once inside, the indifference changes.
Organic ornamentation
The Galería Güemes was the first skyscraper of Buenos Aires, with 14 floors and 87 meters high. The architecture is Art Nouveau style, projected by Francisco Gianotti, an Italian architect who came to Buenos Aires in 1909. The gallery was ordered in 1913 and finished in 1915. Gianotti explored the last techniques of construction to the maximum, what allowed him to dare volumetrically and spatially, as well as resources and decorative techniques where all the corners had received design styles and great amount of details, making its interior richly decorated.
One of the recovered domes
In 2005 it had been through a major restoration. Its glass domes were reconstructed since they had been covered by concrete in the end of the 20s, what gave back the natural illumination and ventilation. The Italian marbles and ornamental rocks were also cleaned after years receiving varnish layers and the bronze sculptures and pieces were polished.
The gallery is a multi-functional building, an urban microcosm where about 25.000 people pass by daily . Currently in its interior we find many stores, cinemas, restaurants and traditional bars. In the subsoil, where before there was a cabaret, there is the Piazzolla Tango Complex , with theater, coffee and museum.
It was declared Architectural Patrimony of the city of Buenos Aires and a place of cultural interest, being the expression of an architecture inspired by the great world-wide galleries of that time. You can access here its official website (in Spanish).
Bas-relief and sculpture above one of the elevators
Entrance of one of the four buildings of the gallery
Where?
Florida 165, San Martín 170 | Tel: +54 (11) 4331-3041
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