Are you ready to discover a hidden gem in Buenos Aires? The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is not just a historic water distribution center but a stunning architectural masterpiece that offers a unique glimpse into the city’s past.
This comprehensive guide from ExpatPathways covers everything you need to know before your visit, whether you’re a digital nomad, traveler, or expat. From its intricate terracotta façade to its fascinating Water Museum, this landmark is a must-see.
Explore the grandeur of one of Buenos Aires’ most emblematic buildings and learn why it stands as a testament to 19th-century engineering and design.
Palacio de Aguas Corrientes (Buenos Aires): Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit
What is the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes of Buenos Aires?
The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes (officially called Gran Depósito Ingeniero Guillermo Villanueva) is an iconic building in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was constructed to house the city’s water supply tanks in the late 19th century, wrapped in a luxurious exterior made from imported materials.
The architect, Norwegian Olaf Boye, worked with renowned local architects Juan Antonio Buschiazzo, Adolfo Büttner, and Carlos Altgelt, with project supervision by the Swedish Carlos Nyströmer. Located at Avenida Córdoba 1950 in the Balvanera neighborhood, it is classified as a National Historic Monument.
Construction and Design
- Engineers and Architects: Designed by engineers Bateman, Parsons, and Bateman, and architect Olaf Boye, with supervision by Carlos Nyströmer.
- Materials: The façade is covered with over 130,000 glazed bricks and 170,000 ceramic pieces made in Belgium and England, hiding the water tanks considered unattractive.
- Structure: The building houses twelve iron tanks with a capacity of 6,000 m³ each, supported by cast iron columns across three floors.
- Renovations: Partial demolition and renovations in 1974, with the original façades on Avenida Córdoba, Riobamba, and Ayacucho streets preserved.
Historical Significance
The building was created as a gravity-fed water distribution depot, functioning until 1978. Today, it houses administrative offices, user services, and the AySA Cultural Program, including the Water Museum, the Ing. Agustín González Library, and an important historical archive.
Architectural Style
The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes reflects an eclectic style with neo-Gothic influences, featuring ogival and battlemented walls.
It showcases French Renaissance elements with slender slate mansards and vitrified ceramic pieces in various shapes and colors, imported from England.
Function and Restoration
Since its inauguration in 1894, the building has transitioned from a water distribution depot to a cultural and administrative center.
It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1989 and underwent restorations from 2010 to 2019, including roofing, mansards, carpentry, stained glass, and the base structure.
Where is the Aguas Corrientes Palace in Buenos Aires Located?
The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is located at Riobamba 750, 1st floor, in the Balvanera neighborhood. The surrounding streets are Viamonte, Ayacucho, and Avenida Córdoba. Situated in the heart of Buenos Aires, it is easily accessible via multiple major avenues.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours during specified hours and days, or take a free individual tour. Entry to the Palacio is through Riobamba street, and visitors must provide their details upon entry.
How to Get to the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes
Its location in the heart of Buenos Aires, specifically on Avenida Córdoba, makes it very easy to reach the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes.
By Bus
Numerous bus lines circulate around the Palacio, including lines 12, 24, 29, 75, 99, 109, 140, and 150.
By Train and Subway
While not as close or direct, the Belgrano Norte, Mitre, Roca, San Martín, and Sarmiento train lines can drop you a few blocks away, requiring a walk or a combination with another vehicle such as a bus or taxi.
The subway lines D, B, and H are also viable options, with stations closer than those of the train lines.
By Bicycle
A notable detail is that Avenida Córdoba, one of the streets bordering the Palacio, has a protected bike lane, allowing for easy access by bicycle.
By Taxi or Rideshare
If you prefer using a taxi or rideshare app, the Palacio’s location is very convenient.
Why is it Important to Visit the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes in Buenos Aires?
The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is a monument to potable water and its importance for public health. A unique work of its kind, it eloquently expresses 19th-century art and technology, representing a pivotal moment in the history of Argentine sanitation.
Declared a National Historic Monument in 1989, this magnificent building is one of the most attractive and emblematic in Buenos Aires.
Significance as a National Historic Monument
The National Commission of Monuments, Places, and Historical Assets, under the Ministry of Culture, declares properties with unique architectural, artistic, and documentary characteristics as National Historic Monuments. This status affirms and transmits the values embodied in such properties.
- Historical Decorations: The decoration includes the National Coat of Arms, the coats of arms of Buenos Aires and Rosario, and the coats of arms of the fourteen provinces existing at the time.
- Materials Used: Woodwork made of Paraguayan cedar and ironwork provided by Scottish foundries.
- Construction Date: The main entrance displays “1887,” the year construction began.
- Exterior Features: The colorful exterior cladding comprises 300,000 terracotta pieces imported from Great Britain, provided by Royal Doulton & Co. and Burmantofts Co. of Leeds. The dome and mansard roofs are covered with slates from Sedan, France.
- Interior Structure: The large interior metal structure, assembled like a giant Meccano set, was imported from Belgium and manufactured by Marcinelle and Coulliet.
Architectural Marvel and Historical Significance
The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes not only serves as a living testament to a well-planned government response to water distribution issues in Buenos Aires but also offers a glimpse into a time when the city aspired to be the Paris of Latin America.
Many tourists are often skeptical when they see this building, questioning whether it is a palace of Buenos Aires aristocracy or a water installation.
The Water Museum
The museum in this palace provides insights into the evolution of the city’s water system as it grew. The main attractions are not just the building’s exterior architecture but also the internal tanks and robust water columns.
Activities to do at the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes
Get to know the Water Museum
The museum at the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes offers insight into how a city as large as Buenos Aires managed to address water supply issues over a century ago.
It not only explains the purpose behind the construction of the Palacio but also showcases various structures and objects that highlight the progress of Buenos Aires.
Architecture
The most captivating aspect of the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is its architecture. In a city where modernity competes with traditional European architecture, the Palacio maintains its privileged place in the urban landscape.
- Exterior: Covered with 300,000 English terracotta tiles, the building hides a massive iron structure made in Belgium, comprising three floors of tanks supported by 180 columns, capable of holding over 72 million liters of water.
- Materials: The wooden carpentry was made with cedar from Paraguay, and the ironwork was provided by Scottish foundries. The exterior polychromatic cladding consists of 300,000 pieces of terracotta imported from Great Britain, with glazed and unglazed tiles supplied by Royal Doulton & Co. and Burmantofts Co. of Leeds. The slate for the domes and mansards was imported from Sedan, France, and the interior metal structure was brought from Belgium and manufactured by Marcinelle and Coulliet.
- Significance: The architecture of the Palacio is not only imposing and fascinating but also reflects a historical era in Buenos Aires marked by prosperity and development, similar to the old power plants of the Italo-Argentine Company.
Take your photos and videos
The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is a wonderful building that invites you to capture its beauty through your mobile phone or camera lens.
- Exterior Tour: Start with a tour of the exterior, which occupies an entire block in the Balvanera neighborhood. After capturing the grandeur of the façade, enter the Palacio to see the old offices and the evolution of Buenos Aires’ water supply system.
- Interior Highlights: Take an excellent shot of the internal tanks and reservoirs, supported by sturdy iron columns.
- Freedom to Film: Filming inside the Palacio is allowed, giving you complete freedom to create photographic and video records of your visit.
Last Consideration
Exploring the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is an essential experience for digital nomads, travelers, and expats in Buenos Aires.
This architectural gem is open for visits from morning until late afternoon on weekdays, and while no reservation is required for general entry, guided tours are available at specified times and days.
Be sure to touch the building materials, both on the exterior and interior, to truly grasp the majesty of this historic site.
ExpatPathways provides all the details you need to know before your visit to this magnificent landmark, ensuring you make the most of your cultural journey in Buenos Aires.
