Buenos Aires UNLOCKED

BUENOS AIRES UNLOCKED CATALINAS NORTE X: A new urban model for a fragmented urban fabric

| An urban design project by Anneleen Brandt and Sébastien Ronchetti |

CATALINAS NORTE X: A new urban model for a fragmented urban fabric

This booklet contains the work delivered by Anneleen Brandt and SĂŠbastien Ronchetti within the design studio Buenos Aires Unlocked, proposed and supervised by Cecilia Chiappini. What follows will be the combination of the remote research, the definition of a strategy dealing with some of the main issues plaguing the city of Buenos Aires, elaborated through three proposals with an extended look at the key proposal: a new type of urban model for the Catalinas Norte II plot.

The Autonomous city of Buenos Aires is currently undergoing a lot of transformations. Large infrastructural works and massive corporate investments change the urban landscape, while the city also deals with social struggles through, for example, the reurbanisation of its slums.

These large infrastructural works, together with historical interventions and the geographical boundaries rupture the city grid. Combined with a number of social, political and ecological barriers, this results in the fragmented urban fabric that composes the city center.

The remote research will look further into this urban fabric, engaging in a physical context where social, cultural, political and ecological questions arise and themes such as collectivity are explored. Ranging from a large-scale top-down analysis to the microprocesses of appropriation and use of space, different methodologies will be combined to get a better understanding of this ever-evolving megacity.

Analyzing the fragmented urban spaces with their own specific tensions led us to develop an urban strategy that enhances the overall integration. A strategy that is built up out of three complementary projects.

Three proposals, which although viewed separately, are strongly interconnected with each other, both on a physical and social level. The themes natural green (of which there is a great lack in the city), connectivity (physical, cultural, political, ecological...) and mixed-use program (available to all) are keywords in this reformation towards an integrative city.

A project developed within the Master of Architecture under supervision of Cecilia Chiappini 2

KU Leuven, Faculty of Architecture, 2019-2020 | Anneleen Brandt - SĂŠbastien Ronchetti |

Model 1:5000

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 - RESEARCH

Demography Urban fabric Urban knot

7 11 15

02 - STRATEGY

Mapping the urban tensions

Defining the buffer of inconsistencies

19 33

03 - PROPOSALS

Paseo del bajo Highline 31

Catalinas Norte X

47 53 61

5

01 - RESEARCH DEMOGRAPHY

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is situated on the western shore of the Rio de la Plata. Although it bares the same name and it is geographically situated in the Buenos Aires province, the city of Buenos Aires is autonomous. The other parts of the Metropolitan Buenos Aires are included in the province.

The province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populated of the country. With about 16,6 million inhabitants it makes up more than a third of the entire country’s population of 44,3 million.

Of these 16,6 million inhabitants, nearly 15,6 live in the Greater Buenos Aires, an example of the very punctual distribution over the entire country.

The image below shows a visual representation of the density over the urban sprawl in the larger metropolitan area with an increasing density towards the autonomous city.

The Autonomous Buenos Aires itself has approximately 3,06 million inhabitants. Together with its 203km² surface, that makes it the largest and most populous city of the country.

0

> 50 000 inh / km²

7

DENSITY This map, showing the population density of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, allows us to detect a first zoning while also giving us a first glimpse of (natural) boundaries.

Two peaks of higher density lead up to the city center. Meanwhile, some other isolated areas also show a clear boost in density. One of those is Villa 31, an informal settlement in the north of the historical center, which will be explained more in detail later on.

Inhabitants / km²

N

0

1

2

3km

< 9 999 10 000 - 14 999 15 000 - 29 999 30 000 - 49 999 > 50 000 Used green space

The lack of green space in the city is also quite obvious. Or more specifically, the lack of qualitative used green space.

However, three large zones surround the city, ranging from waterfronts to ecological reserves, university campuses, Olympic parks, ..., of which some parts are currently under development or have the potential to be further developed as green lungs for the city.

Inhabitants / km²

N

0

8

1

2

3km

< 9 999 10 000 - 14 999 15 000 - 29 999 30 000 - 49 999 > 50 000 Used green space

SOCIO-ECONOMIC A second type of zoning arises when looking at the socio-economic aspect.

The average monthly income shows a clear division of the city in three parts, corresponding to three social classes: high (income), middle (income) and low (income) with the highest income located in the north, close to university campuses, parks, the airport and other developed waterfront activities.

Average monthly income $ / person

N

0

1

2

3km

< 558 559 - 1 249 1 250 - 1 707 1 708 - 2 239 2 240 - 3 406

This previous zoning, resulting from the average monthly income, is also directly applicable to the overall level of education.

The south has the highest amount of illiteracy while the north has the lowest.

Illiteracy %

N

0

1

2

3km

0,1 - 5,5 5,6 - 7,5 7,6 - 9,5 9,6 - 14,5 > 15

9

URBAN FABRIC - history

San Gregorio

Santa Maria

Santa Rosa

Santo Tomás

Santiago

Santa Catalina

Santa Teresa

San Nicolás

Merced

Santa Lucia

Piedad

Las Torres

Cabildo

San Cárlos

San Francisco

Rosario

Santo Domingo

San Bartolomé

San Andrés

San Isidro

Concepcion

Bethlem

San Fermin

Santa Bárbara

San Pablo

San Pablo

Monserrat

Monserrat

Sts. Cosme y Damian

Sts. Cosme y Damian

San Miguel

San Miguel

San Juan

San Juan

San Pedro

San Pedro

San José

San José

Santisima Trinidad

Santisima Trinidad

San Martin

San Martin

Santo Cristo

Santo Cristo

Division of the city of Buenos Aires, since 1794 (20 Barrios)

Historically, Buenos Aires is built up out of an orthogonal grid, inherited from the Spanish colonial era. This grid, more or less aligned with the north-south axis, is - in theory - infinite as long as there is land. Over time, however, the grid depicted above has evolved and expanded in a lot of different ways: curving with or around geographical borders, ruptured by irregular infrastructure, etc.

Nevertheless, the idea of this ever-expanding grid is still very visible, making these irregularities all the more interesting as questions arise like: how were they formed?

Are they intentional? What is their purpose? ...

11

INCONSISTENT fragments and fluxes

CONSISTENT grid

FRAGMENTED urban fabric

12

URBAN FABRIC - Fragmented

This grid, this regular system of square blocks, will from now on be considered as a consistency in the city. A certain set of rules or a certain typology that forms the very base of the city. The definition of such a consistency also implies that something can be inconsistent, something that breaks up this grid or does not align with it. In the city grid of Buenos Aires this takes the form of large infrastructural veins cutting through the fabric or also of plazas, parks, vacant areas and neighborhoods that have been designed while completely ignoring the grid.

From now on we will divide these inconsistencies into two groups: the fragments, which are specific surfaces with defined borders (some maybe more clearly visible than others) such as a harbour area, and the fluxes, which are infrastructural, such as railways used for transport through the city. On a micro scale these fluxes can also represent the movements of people in/around/through fragments.

If we look more closely at the inconsistencies, we notice that they can be divided on a secondary level. The inconsistencies that were formed intentionally and those that were formed unintentionally. This refers to whether or not the government planned the existence of these fragments or fluxes.

If an inconsistency is formed intentionally this can be to add more importance to a certain location (think of plazas in front of important buildings such as Casa Rosada) or to change the spatial qualities (think of neighbourhoods where the grid is barely visible.)

Casa Rosada with its plaza and diagonal axes

Inconsistencies can also be formed unintentionally. An example is the informal settlement of Villa 31, the result of a left-over space between the train tracks and the harbour area that has been claimed by the people.

Villa 31, formed between the harbour area and the train tracks

A first superposition of these two layers that makes up the city fabric - albeit schematic shows this fragmented aspect of the, at first, seemingly coherent mass that is Buenos Aires.

13

Zoning Density Socio-economic Inhabitants Income Green zones Education N

14

Transport Urban Knot

0

1

2

3km

URBAN KNOT

By combining the previously mentioned zoning in terms of density and socio-economic classes, with the physical aspect of the grid with its inconsistencies, we notice the presence of an urban knot. A melting pot where social classes, natural green, density peaks, railway infrastructure, highway infrastructure, the grid, ... all come together.

This results in an area where all kinds of spatial qualities collide through a large collection of contact points.

This urban knot, more or less what is considered the centre of the city, will be our focus area further on since it is out of these kind of contact points that the city shows its multitude of social, ecological, physical and political aspects. This knowledge is needed if we want to tackle the issues this city is facing.

15

AX

IS

AVENIDA

16

PLAZA

IT

LIM

An aerial view of this urban knot gives a first glimpse of the inconsistent fluxes and fragments coming together and interacting with each other as well as with the grid. Already it is clear that there are great differences in typology, linked to the different zones, allowing us to make a first set of assumptions in terms of uses, program and day to day activities.

Also clear are the several ways in which the grid is broken up by inconsistencies. This goes from stopping the grid at a (geographical) limit to cutting straight into the grid to form plazas and axes or even removing a whole series of blocks to create an avenue.

17

02 - STRATEGY MAPPING THE URBAN TENSIONS

Since the urban knot contains such a large amount of different zones interacting with each other, each with their own uses and users, there undoubtedly are a lot of tensions coupled to them.

These tensions - political, ecological, social, economical, physical...

- range from large scale city issues, to very individual and punctual cases on a micro scale.

If we want to get a better understanding of all the urban tensions that are taking place, a closer look is needed: investigating the individual inconsistencies as well as the uses and activities that surround them.

19

MAPPING THE URBAN TENSIONS

Overview of the urban tensions

Retiro train station plazas The plazas in front of the Retiro train station function as a transition area, a crossing point in which there is an encounter between the different layers of society.

Bikelanes The current bikelane network has limited connectivity, hence the city is working towards a more bike friendly urban environment.

As a contact point between different typologies, the plazas give acces to the bus and train stations, the informal settlement of Villa 31, the business district of Catalinas Norte I, the Catalinas Norte II site which is under transformation, the formal city grid and the industrial harbour area.

Villa 31 highway The informal settlement of Villa 31 is partly covered by a 6-lane highway, not only causing air pollution but also noise pollution as the vehicles are just a few metres away from the houses.

Villa 31 is surrounded by hard borders due to the train tracks and the industrial harbour area. This physical exclusion also augments the social segregation of the 40 000+ people living in the very bare conditions of this informal settlement.

Catalinas Norte I Catalinas Norte II

85 106 INH. / KM²

Site under transformation

Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

This business district is iconic in the city's skyline and symbolises the globalisation.

The area is an accumulation of privatised enclaves, where access is only granted to a limited number of people. The large avenues surrounding the area strengthen the feeling of a segregated business island, where interaction between different social classes is avoided at all cost.

NATURAL GREEN?

Extension of metro line E

What originally served as a dumping area for construction debris and rubble from demolished buildings, started to develop as a real wetland where fauna and flora could thrive. Declared as an ecological reserve in 1986, it now houses 2000+ species among which birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and native vegetation, such as grasslands and alder forests.

A new extension to the metro network will improve the connectivity from the Retiro train station to the city centre, providing an extra stop at the Catalinas Norte II site.

Avenida 9 de Julio Apart from being a very important axis connecting the north and the south part of the city, which causes massive traffic jams, this avenida is also a popular location for political and social manifestations.

Nowadays the location has become a popular attraction to escape the city with activities such as jogging, cycling and birdwatching.

As in other areas, this Avenida has also lost some of its typical characteristics due to the proces of touristification.

Informal economy The informal economy is a big part of the culture of Buenos Aires, ranging from weekly flee markets at the perimeter of the city, to occupying the main shopping streets and providing private car wash services.

Puerto Madero Built in 1887 this port area quickly became obsolete due to the arrival of larger cargo ships.

Undergoing a huge transformation through a project developing company, Puerto Madero is subjected to the process of gentrification, resulting in a commercial development rather than an urban planning project.

The increasing popularity of the reserve also has its downside: having suffered from more than 400 fires due to human negligence since the declaration in 1986, the question arises how this area can be used as an urban green lung while still protecting the valuable natural habitat.

The reserve has restricted access as it has closing hours and only two entrance gates.

Together with strict rules, the risks and activities are controled.

The heavily polluted water of La Plata and the presence of old construction debris comes with dangerous risks and therefore bathing is strictly prohibited.

CONSISTENT grid

13 680 INH. / KM²

9,3

%

138 328 VACANT

Residential buildings

Villa Rodrigo Bueno This informal settlement is subjected to a reurbanisation process, even though it is still a secluded area surrounded by the closed off reserve and the industrial harbour area.

A huge social gap arises between the inhabitants of the Villa and the wealthy Puerto Madero inhabitants adjacent to the settlement.

27 760 INH. / KM²

DE

NEW URBAN CO y

Homogeneous cit Mixed use Heritage city Sustainable city

Enel Generación Costanera This is the most important thermal power plant of Argentina, providing 5% of the country’s electricity demand.

Integrated city

Anneleen Brandt - Sébastien Ronchetti KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture 2019-2020

21

Villa 31 highway Villa 31, an informal settlement, is partly covered by a 6-lane highway, not only causing air pollution but also noise pollution as the vehicles are just a few metres away from the houses.

Villa 31 is surrounded by hard borders due to the train tracks and the industrial harbour area. This physical exclusion also augments the social segregation of the 40 000+ people living in the very bare conditions of this informal settlement.

22

Avenida 9 de Julio Apart from being a very important axis connecting the north and the south part of the city, which causes massive traffic jams, this avenida is also a popular location for political and social manifestations.

As in other areas, this Avenida has also lost some of its typical characteristics due to the proces of touristification.

23

Puerto Madero Built in 1887, this port area quickly became obsolete due to the arrival of larger cargo ships. Undergoing a huge transformation through a project developing company, Puerto Madero is subjected to the process of gentrification, resulting in a commercial development rather than an urban planning project.

24

Villa Rodrigo Bueno This informal settlement is subjected to a reurbanisation process, even though it is still a secluded area surrounded by the closed off reserve and the industrial harbour area. A huge social gap arises between the inhabitants of the Villa and the wealthy Puerto Madero inhabitants adjacent to the settlement.

25

Catalinas Norte I This business district is iconic in the city's skyline and symbolises the globalisation.

The area is an accumulation of privatised enclaves, where access is only granted to a limited number of people. The large avenues surrounding the area strengthen the feeling of a segregated business island, where interaction between different social classes is avoided at all cost.

26

Reserva Ecolรณgica Costanera Sur What originally served as a dumping area for construction debris and rubble from demolished buildings, started to develop as a real wetland where fauna and flora could thrive. Declared as an ecological reserve in 1986, it now houses 2000+ species among which birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and native vegetation, such as grasslands and alder forests.

Nowadays the location has become a popular attraction to escape the city with activities such as jogging, cycling and birdwatching.

The increasing popularity of the reserve also has its downside: having suffered

from more than 400 fires due to human negligence since the declaration in 1986, the question arises how this area can be used as an urban green lung while still protecting the valuable natural habitat.

The reserve has restricted access as it has closing hours and only two entrance gates.

Together with strict rules, the risks and activities are controled.

The heavily polluted water of La Plata and the presence of old construction debris comes with dangerous risks and therefore bathing is strictly prohibited.

27

28

Retiro train station plazas The plazas in front of the Retiro train station function as a transition area, a crossing point in which there is an encounter between the different layers of society.

As a contact point between different typologies, the plazas give acces to the bus and train stations, the informal settlement of Villa 31,the business district of Catalinas Norte I, the Catalinas Norte II plot which is under transformation, the formal city grid and the industrial harbour area. 29

Bikelanes The current bikelane network has limited connectivity, hence the city is working towards a more bike friendly urban environment.

Extension of metro line E A new extension to the metro network will improve the connectivity from the Retiro train station to the city centre, providing an extra stop at the Catalinas Norte II site.

30

9,3

%

138 328 VACANT

Residential buildings

ity Homogeneous c Mixed use Heritage city Sustainable city Integrated city

New urban code The city of Buenos Aires has provided an urban code for building within the city grid. This code promotes a homogeneous city, mixed use, the preservation of heritage, sustainability and an overall integrated city.

In short, these rules preserve all that makes the grid consistent. This makes it all te more clear that there is a lack of an overarching vision over the other fragment, resulting in more often than not monoprogrammatic, isolated areas.

As in many other cities though, vancancy is also an issue. With around 138 328 vacant buildings, almost 10 % of the grids residential buildings is vacant.

31

DEFINING THE BUFFER OF INCONSISTENCIES

What follows is a catalogue in which we will take a closer look at each of the inconsistencies scattered throughout our focus area.

The difference here is that it is not so much the tensions, which happen at the contact points between or by interacting with other (in)consistencies, but more the individual cases which we will evaluate.

By doing this, we aim to gain a better understanding of the processes that took place and that caused the development of these inconsistencies to what they are today. What spatial qualities do all these fragments provide? Which uses are specific to a certain location? And especially, is it possible to use these aspects if we want to tackle the overall issue of fragmentedness in our focus area?

33

11 13 16

14

1

6 15 2 3 4

5

7

8

9 12

10

N

CONSISTENT grid INCONSISTENT fragments 1 - 10 INCONSISTENT fluxes 11 - 16

34

1. VILLA 31 2. PLAZA CANADÁ, FUERZA AÉREA ARGENTINA, GENERAL SAN MARTIN 3. CATALINAS NORTE I 4. CATALINAS NORTE II 5. PLAZA DE MAYO, PLAZA DEL CONGRESO, PLAZA LAVALLE 6. NORTH HARBOUR 7. PUERTO MADERO 8. RESERVE ECOLÓGICA COSTANERA SUR 9. VILLA RODRIGO BUENO 10. SOUTH HARBOUR

13

11. AU PRES. ARTURO UMBERTO ILLIA 12. AVENIDA 9 DE JULIO 13. PASEO DEL BAJO 14. RETIRO TRAIN STATION 15. DÁRSENA NORTE 16. INDUSTRIAL DOCKS

16

INCONSISTENCY

INTENTIONAL

UNINTENTIONAL

FRAGMENT

FLUX

Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally made to assign more importance

Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally made to generate connections

Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally made by (un)intentional fragments or fluxes

Inconsistency in the form of a flux, unintentionally made by (un)intentional fragments or fluxes

To start, we constructed a tool allowing us to categorize each inconsistency - no matter how different they are from each other in one graph using four key aspects which have been mentioned before. An inconsistency can either be a fragment or a flux, creating a first division. Secondly, they can be formed either intentionally or unintentionally. This refers to whether or not the government deliberately differed from the consistent grid in the scope of urban planning, or in the case of, for example, a left-over piece of land that was appropriated in a completely different way (think of Villa 31). On a third level, this graph makes it also possible to indicate to a certain extend how the unintentional inconsistencies were formed. For example, a left-over piece of land can be the result of different, planned inconsistencies surrounding it while also reducing access. This again reveals the vast relations and connections between the (in)consistencies.

It is clear though, that when we try to imagine an unintentional flux, this scale is still too large. Any type of major transport through the urban fabric will need some kind of infrastructure, which will always be intended by the government. An example of what this could mean on a smaller scale is the movement of people through designed areas in which their path does not follow the previously intended trajectory.

35

FRAGMENTS 1. VILLA 31

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally created through the intentional North Harbour fragment and the intentional Retiro train station flux.

PROGRAM: 0,470 AREA [km²]

2. PLAZA CANADÁ, FUERZA AÉREA ARGENTINA, GENERAL SAN MARTIN

TYPOLOGY:

INCONSISTENCY

Residential with small scale (in)formal economy Extremely dense population Informal housing Very poor conditions

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally created.

0,154 AREA [km²]

3. CATALINAS NORTE I

PROGRAM:

Transition area from and to public transport Rush hour peaks

TYPOLOGY:

Retiro train station plaza (green) Public spaces

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally created.

PROGRAM: 0,099 AREA [km²]

4. CATALINAS NORTE II

TYPOLOGY:

INCONSISTENCY

Offices, hotels Busy during working hours, deserted at night Gated high rises Secluded zone

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally created through the intentional Catalinas Norte I fragment, the intentional Plaza Canadá fragment and the intentional Paseo Del Bajo flux.

0,162 AREA [km²]

5. PLAZA DE MAYO, PLAZA DEL CONGRESO, PLAZA LAVALLE

PROGRAM:

Offices, hotels, residential, commercial ground floor

TYPOLOGY:

High rises with public plint

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally created.

36

0,370 AREA [km²]

PROGRAM:

Gathering, relaxing, passing through Connecting axes

TYPOLOGY:

Casa Rosada (green) Public spaces

?

6. NORTH HARBOUR

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally created.

PROGRAM: 3,130 AREA [km²]

7. PUERTO MADERO

TYPOLOGY:

INCONSISTENCY

Harbour industry Zone only accessible for authorised personnel Industrial buildings Industrial docks

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally created.

1,708 AREA [km²]

8. RESERVE ECOLÓGICA COSTANERA SUR

PROGRAM:

Secluded zone for people with a certain profile, recreation, housing, commercial

TYPOLOGY:

High rises Former harbour buildings

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally created through the intentional Puerto Madero fragment.

3,270 AREA [km²]

9. VILLA RODRIGO BUENO

PROGRAM:

Natural reserve Recreation for all

TYPOLOGY:

Natural green Natural seafront

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally created through the intentional Reserve Ecologica fragment and the intentional South Harbour zone.

PROGRAM: 0,096 AREA [km²]

10. SOUTH HARBOUR

TYPOLOGY:

INCONSISTENCY

Residential with small scale (in)formal economy Extremely dense population Informal housing Very poor conditions

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, intentionally created.

PROGRAM: 2,077 AREA [km²]

TYPOLOGY:

Harbour industry Zone only accessible for authorised personnel Industrial buildings Industrial docks

37

FLUXES 11. AU PRES. ARTURO UMBERTO ILLIA

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

2,000 LENGTH [km]

12. AVENIDA 9 DE JULIO

PROGRAM:

Main road to and from the city

TYPOLOGY:

Highway viaduct Six lanes

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

PROGRAM: 3,600 LENGTH [km]

13. PASEO DEL BAJO

TYPOLOGY:

INCONSISTENCY

Main inner city avenue Cars, pedestrians, cyclists Manifestations Avenue Twenty lanes

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

7,100 LENGTH [km]

38

PROGRAM:

Fast north-south connection Heavy transport

TYPOLOGY:

Half open tunnel Four lanes

14. RETIRO TRAIN STATION

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

PROGRAM: TYPOLOGY:

15. DÁRSENA NORTE

INCONSISTENCY

Main railroad connection to and from the city Transport of goods and people Traintracks

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

16. INDUSTRIAL DOCKS

PROGRAM:

Recreational sailing

TYPOLOGY:

Water

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

PROGRAM:

Cargo shipping Cruise ships

TYPOLOGY:

Water

39

11 13

14

1

2 3 4

5

N

BUFFER fragments 1 - 5 BUFFER fluxes 11 / 13 / 14

1. VILLA 31 2. PLAZA CANADÁ, FUERZA AÉREA ARGENTINA, GENERAL SAN MARTIN 3. CATALINAS NORTE I 4. CATALINAS NORTE II 5. PLAZA DE MAYO, PLAZA DEL CONGRESO, PLAZA LAVALLE

40

13

11. AU PRES. ARTURO UMBERTO ILLIA 13. PASEO DEL BAJO 14. RETIRO TRAIN STATION

BUFFER

of inconsistencies By combining the individually categorised inconsistencies with the overlapping urban tensions, the presence of a buffer becomes clear.

This buffer, a series of smaller inconsistencies, acts as a barrier between the consistent city grid and the surrounding larger fragments.

Currently, the large infrastructural scars make for difficult crossings while gated communities such as the business district of Catalinas Norte I add to the social exclusion.

The mixed-use that we see in the consistent grid makes place for monoprogrammatic fragments in and on the other side of the buffer.

This also makes the ecological reserve of Costanera Sur - getting more and more popular due to the lack of green space - difficult to reach.

41

HIGHLINE 31

42

PASEO DEL BAJO

GREEN LUNGS

ELEFANTE BLANCO

Our strategy is one in which this buffer will be used as a tool for integration. Therefore, the currently separated inconsistent fragments of which the buffer consists should be interconnected. We will refer to this as the longitudinal connectivity.

Next is the transversal connectivity. This refers to the connections between, on the one hand, the consistent grid, and the larger inconsistent fragments such as the ecological reserve on the other. Some strategical interventions here could transform the buffer to a conductor of fluxes rather than an isolator of fragments.

This is of course not an easy transformation and should be seen more as a process than as a finished project. However, since the city is experiencing such a transformation, both on a large and on a small scale, we believe that this situation is ideal to combine projects that are being reformed as we speak under the same overarching goal of integration. A strategy where themes such as natural green, connectivity and mixed-use program for all, are central.

A TOOL FOR INTEGRATION

43

03 - PROPOSALS

Our strategy will be carried out through three projects: Paseo del Bajo, with the enhancement of the existing connections.

Highline 31, with the focus on reappropriating infrastructure to dissolve the borders between fragments.

Catalinas Norte X, the missing link in the buffer, showing the need for a new type of urban model in which mixed program and availability for all, are central.

45

PASEO DEL BAJO - strengthening the transversal connectivity 13. PASEO DEL BAJO

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a flux, intentionally created.

7,100 LENGTH [km]

PROGRAM:

Fast north-south connection Heavy transport

TYPOLOGY:

Half open tunnel Four lanes

Paseo del Bajo is a recently constructed half-open tunnel. The more than seven-kilometer-long highway connects the north and south of the city, mainly for heavy transport of the harbour areas. Alongside this tunnel will also be a linear park for pedestrians and bicycles as well as a tramway track, providing longitudinal connectivity.

Since the tunnel is only half covered, it still forms a visible barrier in terms of transversal crossings. Very specific passages have been designed over the tunnel, but since these are merely restricted to the surface area of the Paseo del Bajo project, they do not reach their full potential. The large avenues on both sides of the tunnel were clearly not included, which makes this linear park still an isolated island between the city grid and the other inconsistent fragments.

Through a specific set of inputs, these existing transversal connections, provided by Paseo del Bajo can be extended in both ways: towards the city grid and towards the ecological reserve. These inputs can be both physical connectors (pedestrian crossings, bridges, bike lane extensions...) as well as inputs of program. This program, available for all, will generate new types of fluxes which on their turn will enhance the existing transversal connections.

Since the popularity of an area such as the ecological reserve is questionable, it is important to have a certain set of specific inputs by which the behaviour of the visitors can be guided and which also educates them.

47

lin Cata

Paseo del Bajo

Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo

Rio Darsena Sur

Turtle nursery

Trainline Lineair park Av. Eduardo Madero

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te II or as N

Tree nursery

Extension bike lanes An extension of the bike lane network from the Catalinas Norte II site to the existing bike paths in the reserve, will ameliorate the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s connectivity while contributing to a more bike friendly urban environment.

Meanwhile, the existing walking paths in the reserve will become accessible for bikes as well, connecting to the extended bike lane network.

Puente Costanera Sur RESERVA ECOLOGICA COSTANERA SUR

The addition of Puente Costanera Sur, lengthens the existing axis starting at the Congreso, through Casa Rosada, continuing via Puente de La Mujer, now untill the furthest point of the reserve.

This bridge across the wetlands will improve the connectivity to the reserve, but is also a means to protect the reserve, as the visitors are now at an elevation to prevent harm to the wetlands and the species living in them.

Reserve education center The point in which all paths through the reserve come together, will serve as an educational center. This input can take the form of a museum, an information kiosk, educational panels, ... in order to educate visitors about the right way of preservation and protection of the reserve.

Information will be provided about the transformation of the reserve through history, as well as about the multitude of animals and plants living in the reserve.

Bird watching tower The presence of 230+ types of birds, makes bird watching a popular activity in the reserve. Providing a bird watching tower will be beneficial to this activity, whitout causing harm to the surroundings and the animals.

The tower will also provide an overview of the reserve, raising awareness about the area and its need for protection.

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The strenghtening of the transversal connectivity, results in a better connected city fabric. A first step was made towards a better integrated city.

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HIGHLINE 31 - reappropriation of the infrastructural space 1. VILLA 31

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally created through the intentional North Harbour fragment and the intentional Retiro train station flux.

PROGRAM:

0,470 AREA [km²]

TYPOLOGY:

Residential with small scale (in)formal economy Extremely dense population Informal housing Very poor conditions

Villa 31 is an informal settlement built on a left-over area between the Retiro train station and the northern harbour. With over 40 000 inhabitants this dens fabric lacks government infrastructure such as sewage systems and electricity as well as education and police services adding a sense of insecurity.

Informal economy is a major source of income, not only coming from inside the villa, but also spread over the entire city.

Currently a large 6-lane highway is passing directly over and through the settlement, one of the most important fluxes for cars going in and out of the city.

This does not only cause air pollution but also noise pollution since the houses are just a few meters away.

Lately, there have been a series of transformations under the process of reurbanisation. One of the proposals of the government is to construct a new highway, moving the flux over the train tracks, which frees up the highway. In this design, the newly freed highway will be transformed into a highline park (think of the New York Highline), adding green to the dense neighbourhood of Villa 31.

However, this proposed highline will only cause further social exclusion with the inhabitants of the city centre coming to walk on top of the gentrificated highline with artificial green while looking down on the people inside the villa.

Our strategy here is to reappropriate this freed up space in such a way that both the inhabitants of the villa and of the grid will interact with each other, through programs of mixed use available to all, while also giving access to areas of qualitative natural green.

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Villa 31

Infrastructural highway

Natural green 54

Inputs of mixed use accessible for all

Integration with the grid

Shaded public space Qualitative natural green space Rainwater infiltration

Accessibility Informal economy Informal housing

Our proposal is a re-arrangement of the existing typologies. The built and unbuilt environment are flipped upside down, when compared to the proposed highline.

This allows for a larger, qualitative natural green space on the ground floor and a more mixed use on top of the highline.

This comes with its own set of benefits: The park has lots of shaded covered spaces, has a better rainwater infiltration and gives the possibility for bodies of water to be formed.

Meanwhile, on the top there is an input of mixed-use program available to all, combined with controlled housing. This softens the boundary between the grid and the villa, as it is a meeting point for both sides.

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Organic

Overview of the newly appropriated infrastructure.

Showing both the inputs of program on top as well as below the highline.

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The result is Highline 31, a highway no longer used for the flux of incoming and outgoing cars, but for a flux of people. On the one hand a physical connection between the grid and the villa surpassing the hard boundary that is the train tracks, on the other hand a series of programs and spaces that attract people from all over the city.

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CATALINAS NORTE X - a new urban model 4. CATALINAS NORTE II

INCONSISTENCY

FRAGMENT

FLUX

INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL Inconsistency in the form of a fragment, unintentionally created through the intentional Catalinas Norte I fragment, the intentional Plaza CanadĂĄ fragment and the intentional Paseo Del Bajo flux.

0,162 AREA [km²]

PROGRAM:

Offices, hotels, residential, commercial ground floor

TYPOLOGY:

High rises with public plint

?

As mentioned earlier, the plot of Catalinas Norte II is currently under transformation. Available because of the creation of Paseo del Bajo that passes under the site, it is developing from an almost vacant plot, in the hands of the public transport company, to a new business district, in the hands of other private investors.

The city is adding a new set of high rise towers, thus creating a new skyline for the city while adding a serious amount of offices and housing for the very wealthy. Although the city is promoting mixed use, the risk of this becoming a copy of Catalinas Norte I is real (just look at the name). Since the Catalinas Norte II plot is the missing link, a key point in our strategy of the integrative buffer, the need for a new urban model is high.

CAT. NORTE I

CAT. NORTE II

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CAT. X Hence, Catalinas Norte X: a new urban model focused around three themes: natural green, connectivity and mixed-use program for all. This new urban model rejects Catalinas I and II and has possible outcomes ranging on a scale from A to Z. To achieve this, we need to tackle the ground floor, the place where people meet, interact, walk, live, play, rest, move, â&#x20AC;Ś

CAT. NORTE I

CAT. A - Z

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CAT. NORTE II

To free up this ground floor, we will use a building named Elefante Blanco. This is a building in close proximity to the Catalinas Norte X plot which is completely vacant.

Built by the government to house judicial functions, it has never been fully completed, leaving behind a huge structure of columns and beams.

35 000 M²

35 000 M²

35 000 M²

35 000 M²

35 000 M²

With each proposed tower having a program of approximately 35 000m² in total, the vacant building, which is more or less 40 000m², has the capacity to relocate the program of an entire tower. This relocation releases pressure from the Catalinas Norte X plot in terms of buildability, allowing us to have more freedom.

40 000 M² VACANT

However, we will not relocate one full tower. Instead, by spreading the amount of square meters from one tower over the entire ground floor of the five towers and relocating that, the entirety of the plot can be used as a coherent carpet connecting the north and south part of the buffer. In doing so, we acknowledge the fact that the towers will still be built, only do they not affect our strategy, since their plinth will have to fit in to the new urban model.

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Missing link Villa 31 blends in with the grid through a highline which houses mixed use program for all sorts of activities, accessible for all social classes. A natural green public space develops under the infrastructure of the highline.

Inputs in the reserve and around Paseo del Bajo enhance the overall connectivity of the fragmented urban fabric.

Elefante Blanco houses the program equivalent to 1 planned tower for the Catalinas Norte II site.

The ground floor of Catalinas Norte II, the missing link in this strategy of an integrative buffer is now available for the implementation of the new urban model illustrated with a potential design: Catalinas X.

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natural green

connectivity

mixed use program for all

new urban model

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CATALI NAS X - A NEW

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ATALINAS X EL - C MOD N A URB

As a first step, the entire area of the Catalinas Norte X plot is considered as a natural green surface, an extension of the linear park that arrives in the southern end. This pushes further interventions to be considered with extra attention to the value of public green space, which is usually reduced to overdesigned parks.

Then, in terms of connectivity, loose ends such as the linear park arriving at the plot, form a first definition of the infrastructural needs, while other connections can be imagined to reconnect this previously isolated fragment with its surroundings.

Mixed use program for all is then added. This ranges from indoor workshop rooms, libraries, exhibition halls, storage space... to covered open spaces, galleries, sports fields, playgrounds and meeting areas.

Open to people from all classes, some spaces know very specific uses while other can be appropriated for many activities. Meanwhile the office workers share the same ground floor to get to their work or when taking a brake. This results in a whole new set of interactions that are not possible in monoprogrammatic inconsistencies. It is a place where tourists, office workers and inhabitants of Villa 31 come in contact and share spaces.

In this scenario, the eventual design of the towers does not matter, as long as the ground floor remains open for all, resulting in a shared entrance.

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A transport hub provides physical connections with other parts of the city. This grants access to the extended metro line, a canopy covering the bus terminal and the tram station as well as a bridge connecting Catalinas Norte X with the water front on one side and the city grid (over Catalinas Norte I) on the other. Also, the pedestrian and bycicle routes alongside Paseo del Bajo are extended towards the Retiro train station.

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AN URB

- CATALINAS X L E MOD

Flexible indoor spaces allow all kinds of uses, varying from large halls to smaller rooms.

A combination of defined programs such as workshop rooms, a library and exhibition spaces is crucial to have a constant flow of people. This helps with avoiding the effect of desolation that can occur to business districts such as Catalinas Norte I after working hours. Office workers are now also forced to use the same entrance as others do when entering the towers, which breaks with the tradition of gated or semi-public plinths.

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A large canopy on the northern end, close to the Retiro train station, provides a covered open space. This is open for all kinds of uses, one of which is the possibility to have a flea market.

Its close proximity to the entrance of Villa 31 and the train station could suggest a relocation of the informal economy that is usually cramped in front of the station.

Meanwhile this can also be a space for events such as concerts, manifestations, art installations or a space for travellers and commuters who wait to catch their train.

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1 CASA ROSADA

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The result is a new urban model, accessible to people from all classes, providing a multitude of program, spaces and collectivities, while also maintaining an underlaying carpet of natural green.

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Model 1:5000

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Model 1:5000

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Model 1:5000

Model 1:5000

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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES Websites https://transforma.buenosaires.gob.ar/ https://mapa.buenosaires.gob.ar/comollego/?lat=-34.602588&lng=-58.319936&zl=14&modo=transporte&desde=ALVEAR%2C+MARCELO+T.+DE+y+PIZZURNO%2C+CABA http://www.ssplan.buenosaires.gov.ar/simulador/web/sectorial/index.htm http://www.ssplan.buenosaires.gov.ar/MODELO%20TERRITORIAL/2.%20Ciudad%20Actual/2_ciudad_actual.pdf https://datosgobar.github.io/densidad-poblacion/#inicio https://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/921936/los-proyectos-urbanos-que-buscaron-vincular-a-buenos-aires-con-su-rio?fbclid=IwAR2rLnk47x5lBlMVkA0Kn696l-ax8yGFwGuIt7CbHV4_E04yDzE44qxSkOQ https://www.lanacion.com.ar/propiedades/inmuebles-comerciales/los-nuevos-proyectos-se-construiran-catalinas-nid2176729?fbclid=IwAR1NcO1rZWtuPXN-zEgwLpD-L6RJT03VGkBQSUAYCHu_MvpEaYAtN48hWhg https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/el-creador-nordelta-busca-cambiarle-cara-al-nid2260248?fbclid=IwAR2_ ZBZ-3QVtXrKIdVXR71ToURJlhiBqWQ212J8LKnHpkmGVqTTQmccX3WA https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/compromisos/paseo-del-bajo-conectar-illia-au-la-plata?fbclid=IwAR2RILsGM38FvJPJx6EgWucYdmuX8liHZ5Usq8g8IqoeIGR4ukCh1440nPs https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/planeamiento/visionciudad/paseo-del-bajo?fbclid=IwAR3FHRLWiuQViaYF_C6lPoeeU6SEm_bs21Qzgf920-CUeJIm3AQSuQ85Jd0 https://mapa.buenosaires.gob.ar/comollego/?lat=-34.620000&lng=-58.440000&zl=12&modo=transporte&fbclid=IwAR2Xki2QKm5GlXIXFeI585P0Ffm5krQmxwkSiaN6Y6Dg4Znbwl0ukanntpE https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/desarrollourbano/codigo-urbanistico?fbclid=IwAR3xv0stWsPDreYDyDJ6QryDH69kxbaqCfKSfl-JxW1BxOmRlavkf3WLUZ8

Books EASTERLING, K. [2014]. Extrastatecraft. The power of infrastructure space.

LEPIK A./ TALESNIK D. [2019]. Acces for all, São Paolo’s architectural infrastructure A special thanks to UNL-Prof. Julio Arroyo, UIA-UPS-Prof. Manoel Rodrigues Alves and Arch. Florencia Lorenzo for guiding us during this remote research through lectures, providing us with interesting insights.

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