Buenos Aires Central Post Office

Central Post Office
Correo Central
The building in 2007.
General information
Town or city	Buenos Aires
Country	Argentina
Construction started	1889
Inaugurated	1928
Renovated	2015
Owner	Government of Argentina
Height	60 m (200 ft)
Technical details
Floor area	88,050 m^2 (947,800 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect	Norbert Maillart

The Buenos Aires Central Post Office (native name: "Palacio de Correos y Telecomunicaciones" or most commonly, "Correo Central") building, now the Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre, was the seat of the Correo Argentino (Argentine Post Office Department) until 2005. It is located in the San Nicolás, Buenos Aires neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The building was designed in the Neoclassical Beaux-Arts style and with Second Empire style elements by French architect Norbert Maillart. Construction started in 1899, and after several long pauses and changes to Maillart's original design, was finally opened in 1928. ^[1]

The Palacio de Correos was declared National Heritage in 1997 due to its architectural style, historical relevance and the artworks inside the building. It ceased activities as a post office in 2003 and two years later the National Government called a tender to turn the building into a cultural centre as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 200th. anniversary of May Revolution. The first name chosen was "Centro Cultural del Bicentenario", changing to "Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre" in 2012.^[2][3][4]

The Central Post Office building, after extensive renovations, construction, and restoration, now houses the Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre, which opened in May 2015. It is the largest cultural center in Latin America, and 4th largest in the world. ^{[5] [6]}

History

Original project

The former post office building (c. 1873), currently part of Casa Rosada.

The building under construction, 1920.

Due to the increasing demand for post services in Argentina, in 1888 the Post Office director, Ramón Cárcano, proposed a specific building as seat for the Postal Service. The Ministry of Public Works hired French architect Norbert-Auguste Maillart to design the building and carry out the project. Maillart's concept building was based on the City Hall Post Office of New York.

Once the project received approval from the president Miguel Juárez Celman, Maillart started works in 1889 on land given by the society Las Catalinas, sited on the block among Leandro N. Alem Ave., Corrientes Ave., Bouchard and Sarmiento streets. Works were interrupted in 1890 because of the economic crash that caused the fall of president Juárez Celman.

Modifications

It was not until 1905 when the National government released funds to finish the building. Many years had passed and the original project by Maillart involved a smaller building became obsolete due to the increasing demand for postal services. Therefore, the post director Ernesto Bosch, proposed a new design for the building and Maillart was hired again in 1908 to carry out the new project.

Unlike the previous project, the new building would have an entrance on Sarmiento street. To facilitate access to building for people, it was planned to build bridges and pedestrian areas, installed on arches and columns that would join the upper border of the 25 de Mayo street with the entrances of the building. Besides, inclined planes would be placed to connect those streets with Leandro N. Alem avenue. Some surrounding buildings, such as the Stock Exchange of Buenos Aires and the Calvet Building were constructed according to that project that finally was never carried out.

Final version

The palace in 2013.

In 1911 Maillart retired from the project in disagreement with the authorities. The National Direction of Architecture appointed Maillart's main collaborator, Russian Jacques Spolsky to continue the project. Spolsky had already designed the Palacio de Correos of Tucumán and its homonym of Rosario.

After Spolsky was designated the original project was significantly modified. Some of the changes included a metallic structure and the use of materials such as cement. Due to the land having been reclaimed from the Río de la Plata, it was necessary to sink 2,882 10 m (33 ft) concrete piles to avoid problems with the foundations.

In 1916, one year after the company hired for the construction of the building transferred the contract to Public Works General Company, the executive authority suspended the construction of the bridges and inclined planes due to the economic crisis and the lack of materials due to the World War I. As a result, some concepts of the palace had to be changed. The picture windows on the second floor (Sarmiento street side) had been originally conceived as entrances, therefore mezzanines were added while some floors were demolished to convert first and second basements into main hall entrances, putting the windows there.

Funds ran out in 1923 so a new law as promulgated to grant new funds, while works were awarded to a new company. The building was finally inaugurated on September 28, 1928, two weeks before then president of Argentina Marcelo T. de Alvear finished his term.

During the first terms of president Juan Perón, he and his wife Eva Perón had their offices at the Buenos Aires Central Post Office. The Eva Perón Foundation also used the building as its headquarters.

in 1997, the Palacio de Correos was declared National Heritage by Law 12,665,^[7] considering its architectural style and historic relevance. In 2002 the building ceased operations as seat of Correo Argentino.^[8] Only a small part of the building continued its activities as a post office and sale of stamps, on Sarmiento Street.

Kirchner Cultural Center

The building became inactive in 2005, also when President Néstor Kirchner saw the opportunity for the abandoned building to become a major cultural center. After 9 years of construction it opened in 2015 as the Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre. ^[5][9][6]

See also

• Correo Argentino
• Buildings and structures in Buenos Aires
• National Historic Monuments of Argentina

References

1. Presidencia de Marcelo T. de Alvear on TodoArgentina.net, Jun 2015
2. El Centro Cultural del Bicentenario se llamará ahora Presidente Néstor Kirchner lanacion.com.ar, 23 Nov 2012
3. "Inauguración del CC Néstor Kirchner", Telam, 20 Jun 2015
4. "El Centro / Historia" on NKCC website, 13 Jul 2015
5. NPR.org: "In Argentina, Where Culture Is 'A Right,' A Free New Arts Center Opens", 3 October 2015.
6. Culturalkirchner.gob.ar: Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre
7. Ley 12.665 - COMISION NACIONAL DE MUSEOS, MONUMENTOS Y LUGARES HISTORICOS
8. "El Palacio de Correos dejó de recibir y de distribuir cartas", La Nación, 7 Sep 2002
9. The Bubble Blog: "Sorry, But The New Kirchner Cultural Center is Goddamn Beautiful", by 'Unpaid Intern,' 21 May 2015; (with images).

External links

• Official Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre website — (Spanish)