Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

Atuel 212, C1437 CABA, Argentina

Ciudad Casa de Gobierno is a new city hall for Buenos

Aires, housing offices for the Mayor and 1,500
employees. Spanning an entire city block in Parque
Patricios, the new building contributes to the
revitalisation of the neighbourhood and combines an
environmentally efficient design with an innovative,
highly flexible internal arrangement of terraced office
floors. The architecture echoes the building’s park-
side setting, with landscaped courtyards and shaded
walkways, and uses materials that draw on the site’s
industrial past to reinforce the unique character of the
area.

Entrance is via a soaring four-storey-high atrium. Full-

height glazing fills the space with natural light and
creates a visual connection with the adjacent park, and
four tiers of office levels step back to create a
sequence of stepped internal terraces. The office
floors are connected by top-lit circulation routes and
punctuated by two large landscaped patios. The
workspaces are open, the majority are naturally lit and
visible, helping to improve communication between departments and promote a
sense of community. The generous floor plates are based on an eight -metre grid,
which allows for a wide variety of layouts – the building was originally
commissioned as the headquarters for Banco Ciudad, and the inherent flexibility of
its design has enabled a seamless conversion into government offices. Further
facilities include a café and a 300-seat wood-panelled auditorium, which can be
used for local events.
Designed to make a positive
environmental and social impact on
the city, the plans form part of a wider
regeneration initiative in the barrio of
Parque Patricios. Externally, the
building is characterised by its flowing
roof canopy, which is supported by
pillars and extends in a deep overhang
to shade the entrance plaza and
facades. Inside, the concrete barrel
vaulted roof is textured and exposed.
The thermal mass of the concrete
soffits, combined with chilled beams,
helps to naturally regulate the
temperature and keep the offices cool.
Every aspect of the scheme was
designed in response to the local climate, including the composition of each facade
– the eastern and western elevations are shaded by a screen of louvres, which rise
the full height of the building. In 2017, the building was certified LEED Gold.