The Kavanagh building

Few buildings in Buenos Aires generate more fantasies and myths than the Kavanagh. Located in Plaza San Martin--one of the most beautiful squares in the city--it was built in the 30's by a wealthy lady called Corina Kavanagh. She commissioned the award winning firm Sanchez, Lagos y de la Torre in 1934 to design the tallest structure in South America at the time. It was finished in 1936 after she sold two of her most profitable farms to finance the construction.

Legend says that the location of the building was decided by revenge...Apparently, one of Corina's daughters--from a well-off but sort of "nouveau riche" family--fell in love with a son of the Anchorena family (wealthy beyond description and extremely conservative). The Anchorenas--of course--did not approve the engagement. They lived in front of the Plaza San Martin in a magnificent mansion, and they had built a church across the square so they could see it from their house--a very catholic family indeed. Corina (furious!) decided to block the view and bought the land where the Kavanagh stands, right in front of that church...

Fiction or not, this building is one of the finest in the city. Stepping into its lobby is like going back in time. Nothing has changed in over 70 years. Luxurious materials everywhere: parchment on the walls--they say Jean-Michel Frank decorated the lobby...maybe another legend?--as well as marbles, Lalique crystal, precious woods and bronze make this place the most elegant and chic Art Deco room in Buenos Aires. No doubt about it.

Kavanagh building - Florida 1065

L'affaire du Grand Hotel

Bariloche, 1935. The great Argentine Architect Alejandro Bustillo won a competition to design a Grand Hotel in the brand new National Park Nahuel Huapi. The idea was to attract wealthy tourists to this desolate location in Patagonia.

Three years later the Hotel was finished. More than 5,000 trees were chopped to be used in the construction of the building, entirely made of wood and stone. The level of comfort was unbelievable for the time: a Bank, a Post office, a Pharmacy, telegraph and a golf course. The grand opening was on New Year's Eve, 1938.

In 1939 the building was completely destroyed by a devastating fire. Rebuilt in a record one year, it became a symbol of winter holidays for years to come. The team in charge of the reconstruction included Jean-Michel Frank along Alejandro Bustillo. Frank was living in Argentina at the time and was in charge of the interiors as well as the design of furniture and lamps.

The hotel was closed in 1979 and was completely abandoned for years. Sold in 1993 to a private Group, it was revamped and once again became the Grand Hotel it was meant to be.

Up in Recoleta

We renovated this penthouse in Recoleta for an American eager to have a pied-a-terre in Buenos Aires. It was a long and very difficult process, considering that the apartment had a story of bad renovations in the past. We started from scratch, and it took us over two years.

The apartment has a big social area, which is a key element when you entertain a lot. We wanted to create a mix between the New York aesthetic of the owner and the location in Argentina. So the white shell houses furniture by local designers (Eugenio Aguirre, of course, our favorite) in a subtle balance with some vintage Mies van der Rohe chairs we found in an Antiques dealer and some rugs our client bought in Istanbul and New York.

We also found a Jean-Michel Frank inspired side table (he worked in Argentina right before his death, so there are still a few remnants of his presence around). A set of nesting tables from the 60's in bright orange add a touch of color and happiness.

A big painting by Gonzalo Papantonakis found its place in the dining room, and some of Diane Detalle are scattered around the rest of the apartment.

A working fireplace, a bookcase, an octagonal office and a bar...the perfect pad.

Parchment, leather, good taste

Another job we have is to be the Image Consultants of the best furniture store in Argentina. It is called Eugenio Aguirre, and is the natural choice for the well-heeled argentinians to furnish their homes. Only the best leathers and woods are used to handcraft these incredible pieces. Think Jean-Michel Frank but XXI century.