Recently restored Argentine icon “La Casa Sobre El Arroyo” wins 2024 World Monuments Fund/Nord Modernism Prize

Casa Sobre El Arroyo, a 1940s architectural marvel, was awarded the 2024 World Monuments Fund/Noll Modernism Award for its outstanding restoration. First designed in 1943 by architects Amancio Williams and Delfina Gálvez Bangue de Williams, the House on the Bridge symbolizes Argentina’s modernist movement. The project was the first in the Global South to win the prestigious Modernism Award and is now being built as a museum to preserve Argentina’s modern heritage.

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The project has always faced a variety of existential threats, including fire, water damage, and vandalism. But thanks to advocacy efforts by local preservation groups and the intervention of Argentina’s Ministry of Culture and Public Works and the City of Mar del Plata, this modern landmark has been officially rescued from decay.

The restoration project carefully followed the architect’s original plans and sought to provide authenticity with archival records as a guide. After severe damage and neglect, the interior and fittings have been restored. Today, La Casa Sobre El Arroyo stands as the center of a museum dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of Argentina’s modern heritage. The restoration was completed and the project was reopened to the public in April 2023.

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The design of this structure is three-dimensional and consists of pure geometric shapes. It consists of the flat surface of the roof terrace, the curved surface, and the horizontal component of the main volume. The building is made of reinforced concrete, so the footprint is light. By using vertical bulkheads and beams, a curved arch connecting his two banks of the river works alongside the main floor slab. This resulted in a structure in which all interior spaces are related to the surrounding environment and landscape. Since the early 20th century, the project has been surrounded by exotic plant species.

The World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize recognizes creative approaches to preserving endangered modern architecture. The recognition of Casa Sobre El Arroyo demonstrates the importance of preserving cultural landmarks for future generations. This annual award recognizes the collaborative efforts of government agencies, architects, and preservationists in promoting our collective architectural heritage.

Last year, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced that it would donate more than US$10 million to conservation projects to protect culturally significant sites around the world that are in need of urgent intervention. In other award news, the 2024 Jane Drew Architecture Prize and her 2024 Ada Louise Huxtable Award for Contribution to Architecture were awarded to Polish-French architect Iwona Buszkowska and political activist Angela Davis. I did. Similarly, Ghanaian-Scottish architect, academic and curator Leslie Rocco has just been awarded the RIBA Gold Medal for Architecture. Finally, the 2023 Danish Landscape Award was awarded to his HC Andersen Garden by MASU Planning, which focuses on honoring unique landscape architectural works.