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“Painted mouths” on a historic corner of Buenos Aires: The property where the first theme hotel in CABA operated is for sale - Infobae
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“Boquitas pintadas” en una histórica esquina porteña: venden el inmueble donde funcionó el primer hotel temático de CABA
De estilo ecléctico y más de 500 metros cuadrados entre áreas cubiertas y descubiertas, fue diseñado por un arquitecto italiano conocido por otras obras en la misma zona. El curioso origen del primer nombre: dos alemanes que se conocieron en Marruecos leyendo el libro de Manuel Puig
www.infobae.com
August 4, 2024
Eclectic in style and with more than 500 square meters between covered and uncovered areas, it was designed by an Italian architect known for other works in the same area. The curious origin of the first name: two Germans who met in Morocco reading Manuel Puig's book
By Jose Luis Cieri
The historic Petit Hotel is on the corner of San José and Estados Unidos (Google Street View)
A Petit Hotel listed with historical protection by the Buenos Aires Government, with more than 500 square meters between covered and uncovered space, is for sale in the Constitución neighborhood. The first theme hotel in the city of Buenos Aires was located in this building.
This property designed in an eclectic and Italianate style stands out on the corner formed by San José and Estados Unidos streets. It is a jewel of Buenos Aires architecture: it is more than 90 years old and is one of the most photographed places in the neighborhood and shared on social media. It was designed by the Italian architect Massimiliano Panzetta Bisighini , who also built several works in Constitución, other parts of downtown CABA and Tandil.
Rosa Aboy , an architect with a PhD in history and president of the Professional Council of Architecture and Urbanism (CPAU), told Infobae that the building has an eclectic architectural style with academic and Italianate elements. “It is an example of neighborhood eclecticism. It is valuable from a heritage perspective because it is very well preserved, both on the outside and in most of the interior spaces,” she said.
It is very well preserved in general terms and was built with imported noble materials (Photo Courtesy: @pablofe70, IG)
The property, located on a corner with a strong identity for the neighborhood, has a typical commercial structure with a ground floor and three residential floors.
“The type of property is very well done, with a spectacular treatment of the corner, entrance to the shop and an Italian loggia with columns at the top, which notably give the area a higher status. The rooms are well preserved, with intact mouldings,” said Aboy, although some areas will need to be restored. “It is essential to preserve the premises on the ground floor and restore the kitchen and bathrooms so that they recover their authenticity and shine,” he stressed.
Trajectory
Little is known about the origin of this property, although it is likely that it was built for rental purposes and as a ground-floor space, as large and luxurious buildings in CABA used to be built with imported materials until the early 1940s.
The pergola is part of the completion of the property located in Constitución. It is very well preserved in general terms and was built with imported noble materials (Photo Courtesy: @pablofe70, IG)
In the late 80s, the Boquitas Pintadas boutique hotel was built in that building, the first thematic hotel in CABA, thanks to the investment and dreams of two Germans who met in a hotel in Morocco in that same decade and by chance: they were both reading the same thing, Boquitas Pintadas, a work by the Argentine writer Manuel Puig that was published in 1969 in a 16-part serial format. The work was adapted to the big screen by filmmaker Leopoldo Torre Nilsson in 1974, with actors such as Cipe Lincovsky , Alfredo Alcón , Luisina Brando , Leonor Manso and Marta González . That chance meeting in Morocco sparked a friendship and a joint project and was the origin of the hotel's name.
The Germans planned the three-storey Petit Hotel project, with a restaurant-bar on the ground floor and themed rooms and cultural events on the upper levels.
Art exhibitions and poetry cycles with projections were held there, and every two months the rooms were redecorated with themes from guest artists. Until its closure more than 6 years ago, Open-House parties were organised , with electronic music and events on the terrace.
The Petit Hotel in San José and the United States is an outstanding example of the urban landscape, explained Pablo Gabriel Fernández , a curious and expert in urban planning who walks around the city showing buildings and houses that are part of the rich architectural history of Buenos Aires. He specified that walking and photographing interesting constructions has been part of his daily routine for years. “Its unique façade with a pergola and its well-preserved interior, despite some modifications, make it a unique landmark. In addition, it has precautionary protection that preserves its façade, allowing only internal interventions,” said Fernández.
“Recording our architectural heritage is essential to understand it, value it and, above all, preserve it,” he stressed.
Thousands of these facades are part of the city's identity and should be protected for this reason. It is sad to find them in poor condition, boarded up or demolished.
"We lack planning and a true preservation policy that allows us to determine which properties should be preserved for their historical value," says Fernández.
Real estate value
Entrance with marble stairs (Photo Courtesy: @pablofe70, IG)
The current owner bought the property from the German couple and has now decided to sell it to start other personal projects.
It is currently for sale at USD 480,000 and is unoccupied. “This value takes into account location, surface area, orientation, age, type, category and condition of the property. The area has high connectivity, surrounded by Independencia, 9 de Julio (Metrobus), Entre Ríos and San Juan Avenues” explained Carla Polizio , from Polizio Real Estate.
The last use was commercial, on the ground floor a digital printing services company operated and on each floor its offices were deployed.
The work on the building did not alter its structure. Improvements were mainly made to the bathrooms, some with granite floors and others with ceramics, plus period sanitary fixtures. The kitchen was renovated with under-counter cabinets and cupboards made of fibreboard and a steel counter with single-lever taps.
It has 9 rooms, including 8 bedrooms with private bathrooms, basement, elevator, kitchen and a balcony terrace with columns and pergola.
One of the rooms with fireplace and private bathroom
The Petit Hotel is made up of two functional units interconnected on a 128.93 m2 corner lot, and has an elevator that connects from the ground floor of the premises to the terrace on the top floor.
Polizio described that “upon opening the door of Functional Unit 1, we entered a large double-height living room with large windows. It also has a kitchen and bar area with a counter, a bathroom for disabled people, three additional bathrooms in the basement and a large storage room. The entrance is on Estados Unidos Street.”
Functional Unit 2 has an entrance on San José and extends over four floors, totaling 343.95 m2.
Columns and moldings are the protagonists of the internal route of the property that also includes stained glass windows
“Upon entering the marble staircase to the first floor, we find a reception area and four bedrooms/offices, three with private bathrooms and balconies. The main bedroom is a master suite with a corner balcony and a fireplace with a chimney. Going up the wooden staircase or the elevator, we reach the second floor with three en-suite offices with balconies and a file room with a bathroom,” Polizio explained.
This floor also has a corner balcony terrace. On the third floor there is a living-dining room, kitchen with serving hatch, bathroom, sauna, shower and a terrace with deck and jacuzzi.
Polizio mentioned high-quality materials such as granite, oak and pine floors. “With high ceilings with moldings and bronze chandeliers, and the stained glass in the elevator, which add unique style and elegance.”
View of the street from the terrace
This is a property with great potential for residential or commercial use, such as tourist accommodation, student residence, academy, cultural center, office, or gastronomic establishment, with a rich architectural, hotel, and even literary and cinematic history.
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