| Work Detail |
The emblematic real estate project worth US$150 million that already has a waiting list
The residences will go on sale next year and will have the magic of living inside a historic building, along with the benefit of accessing the services of a five-star hotel
The project is part of the conversion of the old iconic Plaza hotel in the heart of Buenos Aires
The project is part of the conversion of the old iconic Plaza hotel in the heart of Buenos Aires
Buildings are not only part of the urban landscape, but they also blend in with their surroundings, witnessing events and visits by political, philosophical and cultural figures, and end up embodying the history of a country. The same thing happened at the Hotel Plaza, a building that is more than 110 years old, whose walls have housed figures such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jorge Luis Borges, Nat King Cole, Luis Amstrong and the kings of Spain, and in which some visionaries decided to invest in order to enhance the value of the place.
“Respecting the identity of the building 1000%; that people visit it and find a recognizable environment,” is how Andrés Kalwill, director of Grupo Alvear, the company developing the renovation, together with the architecture studio BMA, defines the work being done there. The project, which will cost US$150 million, will combine hotels with residential units and gastronomic offerings.
Located on an iconic corner of the City of Buenos Aires, the building was built in 1909 by businessman Ernesto Tornquist when its emblematic neighbour Kavanagh, the Retiro station, and the Plaza San Martín as we know it today did not yet exist. The hotel was designed by German architect Alfred Zucker, who previously made his career in New York, where he built 30 buildings. “The hotel was built like a New York building, with a metal structure and perimeter brick masonry up to 120 cm thick,” reveals engineer Marcelo Lozano, construction manager of Grupo Alvear.
The 1909 building will undergo intensive renovation work and will be adapted from the third floor onwards to build 56 housing units, between 60 and 200 m², which will go on sale in May 2025. For its part, the old annex building, located behind the one built by Zucker, on San Martín Street, and built between 1942 and 1948, was demolished to build a new one with five basements. It will respect the volume of the old annex and comply with current regulations on elevators, escape routes, disabled access and garages that the previous building did not comply with. It will have 210 rooms for the hotel sector, a reception and new lounges that will be integrated into the main floor of the historic building, where the original lounges will be restored.
“Nobody has seen the plans, but there are already people in love with the project, they know what the Plaza Hotel was like and they want to live here,” Kalwill reveals, highlighting that he already has a list of people who have asked to be contacted when the units go on sale. He also details that, in total, the project will add 32,000 m² and they estimate that it will be ready by early 2028. “I can’t give prices yet,” he clarifies.
The hotel will add several commercial proposals, which will be accessible to hotel guests, but also to people who are not staying there
The hotel will add several commercial proposals, which will be accessible to hotel guests, but also to people who are not staying there
The sector of the building that has an entrance on Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear and Florida streets will be preserved after remodeling work and will be adapted from the third floor onwards to build 66 housing units
The sector of the building that has an entrance on Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear and Florida streets will be preserved after remodeling work and will be adapted from the third floor onwards to build 66 housing units
“There is a trend for these classic hotels to incorporate a residential area, something that was very good for another building we built in Puerto Madero,” adds Kalwill. “The homes will have the magic of living inside a historic building, along with the benefit of accessing the hotel services just a step away from your home,” reveals Lozano, detailing that the residents of the place will be able to use the pool, the bar and the restaurants, without having to go outside. In addition, the building will have a “desk” area, individual units of an average of 35 m² that will be sold as work spaces to the buyers of the residences.
An adventure on the way
“The dream of acquiring the hotel had been floating around for several years,” Kalwill says, amused, and explains that the company had worked on restoring three other iconic buildings: the Alvear Palace Hotel in Recoleta, the Galerías Pacífico building and the Llao Llao Hotel. “After the restoration work on those three buildings, this was a sure challenge,” Kalwill says.
In the French courtyard of the Plaza Hotel are the characteristic bay windows, which are being restored
In the French courtyard of the Plaza Hotel are the characteristic bay windows, which are being restored
At that time, the hotel was operated by the Marriott chain, but “it was crying out for a strong investment, since the rooms were designed for another era,” says Lozano. Finally, in 2010, the possibility of buying it arose. The arduous task of negotiating with the 65 shareholders, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the businessman Ernesto Tornquist who built it, was to follow: “We managed to acquire it in April 2013 and I had to stay on managing it until the closing date,” describes Kalwill.
“The hotel is deeply part of Argentina’s history, many people have a sense of belonging to the building, so a lot of work will be done to enhance it, respecting the identity of the place as much as possible,” says Kalwill, explaining that the interior design project is being carried out by architect Martín Zanotti, one of Argentina’s most prominent and renowned professionals.
The interior of the building that opened in 1909 was closed in 2017 and is now under repair in preparation for reopening in a few years.
The interior of the building that opened in 1909 was closed in 2017 and is now under repair in preparation for reopening in a few years.
Although the building was built in 1909 in a French academic style, it later underwent a series of changes. “In 1930, that trend went out of fashion, so they rationalized the façade and modified the rooms, adapting them to an interior design with an art deco influence,” says Lozano, who explains that they are currently restoring the façade again, to bring it back to the appearance of the 1930s.
In this restoration work, they managed to recover different elements, such as Carrara marble from stairs that fell into disuse, but that were part of the essence of the place, so they will be used in other spaces such as the lobby and the lounges. “The first Carrara marble that arrived in Argentina was in 1905 and this one is from 1909,” explains Lozano, who also details that the floor of one of the main lounges is made of Bolivian oak from the 1930s, which will also be restored, and reveals that an original chandelier from the beginning of the Plaza is also preserved, on the stairs that lead to the lounges on the main floor.
The hotel still has antique chandeliers, one of them original from 1909.
Inside the Plaza Hotel there will be two new gastronomic proposals, which can be visited by residents of the Plaza and by those from Buenos Aires who do not live there.
Inside the Plaza Hotel there will be two new gastronomic proposals, which can be visited by residents of the Plaza and those from Buenos Aires who do not live there.
Two iconic places that could not be missed
The project leaders explain that the homes that will be in the hotel are aimed at a specific public. “Not everyone is the ideal client to live in a hotel residence, the profile that best suits is someone with grown children, who seeks the tranquility of being in a safe place and having nearby services at their disposal,” explains Kalwill.
Among the gastronomic proposals are the emblematic Plaza Grill and Plaza Bar. These are two legendary food establishments that are very popular with the people of Buenos Aires and that will be restored respecting their original use, character and materials. In addition, a restaurant with a terrace facing Plaza San Martín –corner of Marcelo T. de Alvear and Florida- will be added, as well as another restaurant that complements the French patio. In all cases, these will be proposals open to the Buenos Aires public.
The emblematic Plaza Bar, where part of Argentine history was cooked, will be enhanced, practically without modifying its previous appearance
The emblematic Plaza Bar, where part of Argentine history was cooked, will be enhanced, practically without modifying its previous appearance
The adaptation project and the enhancement of the façade of the historic building is in charge of the architect Fabio Grementieri and the professor Cristina Lancellotti. Lozano explains that the plaster similar to Paris stone and the marble and stone cladding of the base will be restored with the original materials that were used in 1909. Lanceillotti is also behind the restoration of two murals in gold leaf with rural motifs that were found in the party room under four layers of paint. These drawings had little to do with the art deco that was imposed in the rooms in the 30s, but they were closely linked to the personality of the visitors who frequented the hotel, linked to the Argentine aristocracy.
Such is the history that permeates the walls of this building that the developers decided to create a museum inside the hotel, which tells the story of the place. “Our mission is not to sweep it away and come up with something new, but to rediscover the original, recover it and adapt it to the present moment,” concludes Kalwill. |
