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Jewel of downtown Buenos Aires: How much does it cost to rent and buy an apartment in the historic Pasaje Santamarina - Infobae
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Joya del microcentro porteño: cuánto vale alquilar y comprar un departamento en el histórico Pasaje Santamarina
Tiene 110 años y fue levantado entre 1914 y 1915 por el arquitecto alemán Carlos Nordmann en un lote en forma de “L”
www.infobae.com
August 18, 2024
It is 110 years old and was built between 1914 and 1915 by the German architect Carlos Nordmann on an “L” shaped lot.
By Jose Luis Cieri
Facade and entrance through Mexico: the Passage has several directions (Photo: REM Real Estate)
The city of Buenos Aires offers hidden corners that amaze those who travel through the urban landscape. One of these places is the so-called Pasaje Santamarina, which has the particularity of being developed on an “L” shaped lot, with access from two transversal streets, Mexico and Chacabuco, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Monserrat.
It was designed and built between 1914 and 1915 by the German architect Carlos Nordmann , and its name is due to the fact that it was commissioned by the Spanish landowner Ramón Santamarina. Ana Irazusta , his second wife, was the one who carried out the work and inauguration of the passage after his death.
Currently, there are properties for sale and for rent there, tempting the demand for those looking to live in a dynamic area, close to the Casa Rosada, the San Telmo neighborhood and the renovated Paseo del Bajo.
Rossana Castiglioni , an architect and advisor in the area of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture of Buenos Aires, explained to Infobae that the passageway stands out for its architectural design. “Originally owned by the company Santamarina e Hijos, it was conceived as popular rental housing, maximizing the use of the land by densifying its occupation towards the heart of the block with open-air circulation routes,” she said.
Entrance via Chacabuco street at 600
This passage, like others built in the city during that time, makes the most of the urban subdivision.
“It presents typical attributes of passages and galleries, maximizing the use of land and extending the idea of an exterior street into the interior of the complex. Some apartments have direct access from Chacabuco and Mexico streets, while others are connected through successive courtyards that function as circulation routes, providing lighting, ventilation and meeting space,” Castiglioni added.
As soon as you go through one of the reinforced iron gates you can see the sign that says "Pasaje Santamarina"
In Chacabuco, the main entrance stands out with wrought iron doors, balconies and moldings, while the central arch gives it a special character. In Mexico, the entrances, straight or with slight curves, combine wood and wrought iron, and also culminate in a symmetrical arch.
Listed as a precautionary property within the Historic Protection Area (APH 1-14), an extension of the Historic Center of Buenos Aires by the Buenos Aires Government, the building has 35 functional units, located on the ground floor, first and second floors, with surfaces that vary between approximately 50 and 190 square meters.
Flower pots and the Italianate style are part of the interior corridors
Designed as a rental property, it stands out for its monumental entrances and large patios. Castiglioni pointed out that “the iron and glass dividing plates, similar to those of the high-rise chorizo houses of the time, allow lighting and ventilation of all the rooms towards the patios.”
Origins and peculiarities
“The style of the passage is academic with Italianate details, where the mixture of European styles and the mostly Italian workmanship adapted to the urban landscape of the city,” Castiglioni said.
It is designed with a wide exterior connection and thus the sky can be seen from its corridors.
Joaquín Manuel Castro , known on social media as “Buenos Aires al Paso,” shared his perspective on the architectural details he noticed when he walked through the historic door of this corner of Buenos Aires.
“I would like to highlight the quality of the construction and the well-preserved details, such as the golden handles and door knobs, the original doors and the lattices. It is decorated throughout with flower pots and lots of vegetation,” he said.
Pure academicism in the architectural lines of this passage with original doors and lattices that are in very good condition
The red tiles and the amount of vegetation are striking. Castro said: “The quality of the details is incredible. The moldings, ironwork and doors are purely designer but they aesthetically beautify the place. They don't build like this anymore.”
Speaking about his tours, Castro said that he likes to show the different buildings in CABA, both old and modern, because they all have something to rescue.
Historic places like Pasaje Santamarina have an extra attraction. Another corner with a European touch in Monserrat
Some homes have direct access from the streets outside, while others are entered through the passage, either through the courtyard of each one or from the stairwells that lead to the units on the upper floors. The entrance on Mexico Street is the most important.
One oddity is that an old sign still survives inside the building that talks about spitting into saliva troughs.
A sign that was placed shortly after the building was inaugurated still remains as a sign of attention for the neighbors and visitors of Pasaje Santamarina
One of the doors that opens onto Mexico Street and serves as a direct access to one of the houses is the home of the war veteran. In addition, the building housed the studio of the award-winning architect Claudio Vekstein , author of the design of several Buenos Aires monuments, before moving to Vicente López.
Estate
Among the apartments for sale, a three-room apartment with two bathrooms and 108 m2 of floor space is offered for USD 190,000; others range from USD 170,000.The houses with the largest square footage usually have access from Mexico Street.
Tomás Dianda , from the REM real estate agency, explained that “on the ground floor of the apartment for sale, there is a large open-concept space that adapts to the needs of the residents. This space, developed in double height and with exposed vaulting, offers versatility, allowing it to be used as a living room, a work area with a desk and library on the mezzanine, or even an additional bedroom.”
One of the homes for sale there
The recently renovated kitchen is equipped with an L-shaped grey granite countertop, ample under-counter cabinets and a porthole window that illuminates the dining area.
A recently renovated kitchen from the apartment that is currently for sale
Dianda highlighted: “The versatility of the main room allows buyers to adapt it to their needs, whether as a spacious living space, a bedroom or a comfortable and bright work area.”
It is developed with a patio in front. On the upper floor, there is a mezzanine made of pine, which can be closed and a bedroom with a bathroom can be made. All floors are made of pine with an air chamber.
El Castillito, a renovated property with this particular dome that gives the property its name (Photo Courtesy: Tagliaferri Properties)
Another property, but for temporary rent, is nicknamed “El Castillito” and owes its name to the dome that crowns the curved space where the staircase is located. Silvia Tagliaferri , from Tagliaferri Properties, commented that “it was renovated in 2003. Distributed over three floors plus a terrace, it has an approximate square footage of 170 m2.”
It was once rented for USD 3,000, but now the price is around USD 1,500 per month. It is also available for daily rent for approximately USD 150, depending on the number of guests.
The units are tall from floor to ceiling and very comfortable in terms of space.
Some of the homes are rented or inhabited by long-term families. The ground-floor units, mostly two-room apartments, were built for rent and have access to patios or stairs to the upper floors.
Bedroom with desk ideal for working or studying
“They are in high demand due to their unique architecture and beauty, and are not comparable to most properties in the Monserrat neighborhood. As for amenities, there are no common areas in the properties in Pasaje Santamarina,” concluded Tagliaferri.
Photos: Courtesy of buenosaires.alpaso
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