Edificio Kavanagh is a 120-metre residential skyscraper at Florida 1065 in Retiro, facing Plaza San Martín. Completed in 1936, it was then the tallest building in Latin America. Its stepped concrete profile, geometric lines and Art Deco and modernist design make it a striking stop for architecture fans. Take in the exterior from the park, then look for the nearby Monumento Nosotros Afuera in Ginastera Square. The building is private, so plan to see it from outside.
A landmark completed in 1936
Corina Kavanagh commissioned the building in 1934 from architects Gregorio Sánchez, Ernesto Lagos and Luis María de la Torre. They designed a reinforced-concrete skyscraper with a stepped profile. When it opened in 1936, it was the tallest building in Latin America and the world’s largest structure made with a reinforced-concrete frame.
The Kavanagh’s height and modern design set it apart from the older buildings around Plaza San Martín. It was later named an Argentine National Historic Monument, in 1999, and recognised as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1994.
A stepped profile shaped by its site
The building’s outline comes partly from the stepped setbacks required by Buenos Aires zoning rules and partly from its wedge-shaped plot. Together, those constraints produced a profile that is easy to pick out against the surrounding greenery. Its geometric forms and clean lines are characteristic of the Art Deco and early modernist styles associated with the building.
A story connected to Corina Kavanagh adds a personal thread to its history. She fell in love with a son of the aristocratic Anchorena family, but the family opposed the match and ended the engagement. The building is linked to her response to that rejection.
Views from Plaza San Martín
The Kavanagh is a residential building, so plan to admire it from public space rather than expect an interior visit. Plaza San Martín, across the street, gives a clear view of the facade and a setting for photographs. In daylight, the changing setbacks and hard lines are easier to distinguish.
Nearby Ginastera Square is home to Monumento Nosotros Afuera, a large egg-shaped sculpture between Plaza San Martín and the entrance to the Kavanagh. It makes a natural second stop while exploring the area’s mix of older and newer architecture.
Perguntas frequentes
Can you go inside Edificio Kavanagh?
The building is a private residence, so plan to see it from outside.
Where can you view Edificio Kavanagh?
The park across the street at Plaza San Martín gives a view of the facade.
What is near Edificio Kavanagh?
Monumento Nosotros Afuera is in nearby Ginastera Square, between Plaza San Martín and the building’s entrance.
When was Edificio Kavanagh built?
Construction was commissioned in 1934, and the building opened in 1936.
