IFTS N7

Materia: Ingls 1

Profesora: Anala Hoban

2 Cuatrimestre 2017

Atractivo: Palacio del Nuncio Apostlico (Ex Palacio Fernndez Anchorena)

(Av. Alvear 1605)

Alumno:

Aloia, Nicols
 Good evening everybody, my name is Nicols and Ill be your guide for the
Fernandez Anchorena Palace. Let me welcome you to the Recoleta neighbourhood, and
the Fernndez Anchorena palace, which is located at Alvear Avenue 1605.

This building is located at the corner with Montevideo Street, covering about a third
of the whole block by extending itself all the way north through Montevideo street and even
getting to Posadas Street, on the opposite side of the block.

It was commissioned by Mr. Juan Antonio Fernndez and Rosa Irene de Anchorena
to the French architect Edouard Le Monnier in 1907. It was finished in 1909. Interestingly,
its first owners never got the chance to use it because the family lived abroad, mainly in
France. However, it remained being managed by the Fernndez family until 1922, when it
was ceded as a temporary Presidential Residence for the then elected President Marcelo
Torcuato de Alvear and his wife Regina Pacini.

After that, the palace was later acquired by Adelia Harilaos de Olmos: a fervent
Catholic and by then one of the richest women in the region. Due to her countless charity
contributions and because she was one of the main he was sponsors of the International
Eucharistic Congress of 1934 (Even using this fantastic building as accommodation for the
then Pope Pius XII), she was named as pontifical Marquise by the Hole See (A prize which
was only achieved by two other women in Argentina). Adelia then decided to donate her
residence as the headquarters for the Apostolic Nunciature when she wrote her will in
November 13, 1947. When she passed away on September 15th 1949, the palace became
an accommodation for the Nunciature, being used by the then Pope John Paul II during his
two visits to Argentina in 1982 and 1987.

This building was declared a national histric monument by a national decree in

2002.

The building was conceived by the French architect Edouard Le Monnier: Graduated
from the National School of Decorative arts in Paris, on his way from Per and Brazil he
arrived to Argentina in 1896 in order to work as a distinguished designer and professor and
where he later produced most of his projects and concrete works. Most of his works were
focused on the conception of an academic -and at the same time- avant garde point of view,
daring himself to what was then the new style like art nouveau, making a notorious display
of freedom and plasticity on many of his productions. Gifted with a great ability in the
creation of masses and volumes, he made each of his works distinguished with his own
style.
 Le Monnier, who was also responsible for the design not only Buenos Aires but
Rosarios Yacht Club (among many other works) can be considered one of the most original
and creative architects of his generation in Argentina. His talent and skills reached its
highest form of sophistication with the Fernandez Anchorena Palace, reflecting the trend of
a new renaissance for classicism in the beginning of the 20th century.

The Fernandez Anchorena is one of the most luxurious palaces located at the Alvear
Avenue.

Masterfully adapting Frances 18th century models, Le Monnier composed a building

of remarkable proportions, refined plasticity and excellent spatial qualities. He was able to
display the old intimate relation between art nouveau and Louis XVs styles like nobody
else, based on the common use of the curved lines, the vegetable-themed ornamentation
and a subtle interlocking between spaces and areas.

The faade follows the norms of the classical composition: It has a base, a
development and an ending with a singular dome that hierarchies the main entrance. It also
follows the symmetry concepts of classical architecture.

Its central body -with a slate and cast iron dome- rests on strong pillars which are
complemented by the curved colonnade of vehicle access. It is the only residence located
on this avenue that maintains the original land with gardens that extend down the ravine
towards Posadas Street.

The interlocking, between spaces and areas becomes noticeable with the
concave-convex game at the cour dhonneur on the exterior towards highly developed
interiors, specially the great central hall. Around this area -possibly the best foyer ever
conceived in Argentinas architecture so far- is where the whole building gets its functionality
from: With an elliptical plant, surrounded by columns, with a modernist-imposed ladder and
crowned with an original skylight-provided dome, the room displays a masterfully spatial and
light play, showcasing Le Monniers capacity to shake the spectator up through a wise and
renewed handling of the essential elements of good architecture and classic repertoire.

The remaining rooms decoration match up to the buildings qualities, still keeping
most of the furniture, objects, paintings and utensils that once belonged to her former owner
and donor of the palace to the Holy See, Mrs. Harilaos de Olmos.

As no other example in Argentina, this buildings furniture and garden set is one of
the most complete and valuable sample from Argentine Belle Epoques heritage.
 It is a fact that this wonderful building was saved from falling into the hands of
speculators or upstart officials only because of being donated to the Nunciature. Otherwise,
it would have been just another historical monument to be discovered only through history
books.

This is the end of the visit. I hope you enjoyed it and keep visiting the rest of the
nearby attractions. Thank you very much for your time.