Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

A mixed use district: an evolving and popular district with a genuinely rich mix of uses, where employment, residential and cultural buildings sit comfortably alongside one another. Both vertical and horizontal mixing of uses within individual buildings contribute to a varied and active public realm.

Nature in the city: across the road from the historic docks, the natural spaces of the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve provide a peaceful contrast to the bustling city. The land was originally reclaimed from the river to build a new administrative centre but the project was abandoned and it has now become a protected area for nature, exercise and places for quiet contemplation.

Connections: landmark bridges make important pedestrian connections across the Dársena Sur River. The Puente De La Mujer swing-bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, links a string of small and large public spaces together, leading to the nature reserve.

Historic elements: the retention of defunct mechanical elements such as the brightly coloured loading cranes and use of materials such as cobbles reflects the industrial character and heritage of the docks.

Art and planting: high quality public art, varied planting, street lighting and textured paving materials all add to the success and attraction of the area. Benches in the shade and drinking fountains enhance the welcoming quality of the spaces.

Valuing ‘ordinary’ heritage: refurbishment and retention of the ordinary brick warehouses has meant that Puerto Madero maintains a distinctive character and a point of difference from other neighbourhods in central Buenos Aires.

Rules about scale: there is a clear and important consistency in the scale of new buildings around the edges of the docks, influenced by the scale of the historic warehouses. These protect the edge of the docks from the more imposing scale of the new tower blocks behind.

Reflection: Buenos Aires is still, in parts, a city dominated by the automobile. Wide avenues and parked cars impinge on pedestrian and cycle connections between this area and Puerto Madero. Prioritising clear pedestrian and cycle routes through simple public realm interventions would help to strengthen the area’s connection with other popular, adjacent parts of the city.