Roque Sáenz Peña | Wander Argentina

Edificio Bencich and the South End of Florida St.

← cont. from: Diagonal Norte—La Equitativa del Plata Building

Another architectural gem on the heavily photographed corner of Diagonal Norte at Florida Street is Edificio Bencich at Roque Sáenz Peña Avenue 615. It was designed by French architect, Eduardo Le Monnie and completed by the Bencich Brothers firm in 1927.

This building, with its traditional mix of French and neoclassic architecture, was much more amenable to the tastes of residents at the time than the La Equitativa del Plata building across the street.

It features two five-story top domes that give spectacular views of Diagonal Norte to the lucky people that work there. The façade features sandstone moldings and wrap-around balconies on the second and ninth floor.

On the opposite side of the street sits another unmistakably signature Le Monnie building, the complimentary, Edificio Miguel Bencich constructed at the same time and designed to elegantly encase Diagonal Norte.

Florida Street ends at Rivadavia, one block further south and changes into Perú Street. It remains pedestrian until reaching Diagonal Sur in the historic Monserrat neighborhood, a couple of blocks further south.

On the final block of the pedestrian mall is the 1931 neoclassic-style Palacio Legislativo (Legislature Palace), with its tall clock tower.

There you’ll often find a gaggle of journalists hanging out in anticipation of breaking news. From here you can go on to explore the Monserrat and San Telmo neighborhoods.

Edificio Bencich Brothers
Diagonal Roque Sáenz Peña 615
Downtown

City Legislature Palace
Perú 130
Downtown/Monserrat

Florida Street at Diagonal Norte

← cont. from: Florida Street—Galería Güemes through the Years

At the point where Florida Street meets Diagonal Norte is Plazoleta Ciriaco Ortiz, a small triangular plaza overlooked by a series of some of Buenos Aires’ most impressive buildings. Here Buenos Aires’ early 19th century desire to emulate the urban design of Paris, with harmonious architecture and long, wide avenues connecting important sites is fully evident.

Diagonal Norte, also called Avenue Roque Sáenz Peña, is symbolically meant to connect the country’s executive power from the Casa Rosada (Pink House) in Plaza de Mayo with the judicial branch at the Supreme Court’s ‘Palace of Justice.’ From here it is visually a straight shot to both The Obelisk and Plaza de Mayo.

Thanks to strict zoning laws during the area’s construction, all the buildings along Roque Sáenz Peña Avenue are esthetically proportional, reaching exactly 220-feet (67.5 meters) in height, the same stature as The Obelisk. Look up on this photogenic and important intersection and you’ll see that cupolas top every building.

The centerpiece of the plaza is the 1936 art-deco style monument in honor of ex-president Roque Sáenz Peña, venerated for instating the secret, obligatory and universal vote for all men in Argentina, allowing for democratic elections. The sculpture was made in Paris from one single piece of stone by Argentine, José Fioriavanti. The monument incorporates the figure of a man soberly seated with a book in his lap to represent the Statesman. Facing the plaza the monument portrays a man and woman holding a small child, to represent Argentina’s acceptance of immigrants. The final part of the monument shows a man with a law tablet and a sword to represent the obligatory vote.

City planners probably never imagined that today Plazoleta Ciriaco Ortiz would be the gathering place for frequent protests and amplified music by local rock and pop bands.

→ cont. reading: Florida Street—The Bank of Boston Building

French-Style Architecture on Florida St.— The Argentine Rural Society

←cont. from: Galería Jardin—Computer Gear on Florida Street

WA-florida-argentienruralsociety1 — A typical turn-off-the-19th-century home along Florida St.

At Florida 460, between La Valle and Corrientes sits the Argentine Rural Society in one of the few remaining former aristocratic homes along Florida Street.

The building’s construction began at the end of the 19th century and was completed in 1917. It is the former home of the family of ex-president Roque Sáenz Peña, who died before the drawn-out construction was complete.

The building reflects Buenos Aires desire to emulate French architecture in the early 20th century, with its huge wooden door and decidedly European style. It was drafted by prolific Belgium architect, Jules Dormal who also designed many other buildings in Buenos Aires, most notably the famed Aguas Argentina Palace, considered by many one of the most beautiful buildings in Argentina.

Today, the Peña home is owned by the Argentine Rural Society, established in 1866 and today known mostly for their annual livestock show, La Rural, held annually in Palermo.

The high-end real estate housing the non-profit Argentine Rural Society is a testament to the importance of agriculture to the old wealth of Argentina. The red paint stains above the doorway are the lasting evidence of the number of protests held here through the years— historically the Rural Society is noted as an institution designed to keep the wealth in the hands of few. Today the Rural Society is not as insular as it once was but protesters maintain that it still serves only to propagate the needs of big business. A visitor will have to be very persuasive to get the chance to go inside and take a limited peek, as the institution’s doors are usually closed and gated off.

→cont. reading about Florida Street: The World’s Most Elegant Burger King