foster + partners unveils buenos aires’ city hall with flowing roof canopy

foster + partners unveils buenos aires’ new city hall with flowing roof canopy
all images courtesy of foster + partners

designed by foster + partners, buenos aires’ new city hall has recently been unveiled where it will house the mayor and 1,500 employees. the ‘buenos aires ciudad casa de gobierno’ takes advantage of its abundant green setting in parque patricios and hopes to become a catalyst for regenerating the local neighborhood. the building itself carries foster and partner’s typical design strategy of using efficient and sustainable design. 

welcomed by a four-storey atrium, the open and generous floor plates of the city hall is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass walls, illuminating the vast space with natural light. this creates a visual connection between the interior and the adjacent park whilst encouraging a sense of community and communication between departments. the construction techniques are influenced by the local sub-tropical climate, from the careful choice of materials to the composition of each façade. externally, the flowing roof canopy, supported by individual pillars is a distinct feature of the city hall, the wave-like roof overhangs providing shade for the public areas underneath. the building is the first in argentina to receive the environmental LEED silver standard award for sustainability and the first civic project in the country by the acclaimed practice.

the practice’s aim is to create a highly flexible building, celebrating the city’s climate and unique park-side setting

lord foster comments: ‘sustainability relates very strongly to local resources and climate, and buenos aires ciudad casa de gobierno is a great demonstration of how architecture can work with nature via passive environmental means to naturally reduce energy use. the roof extends like a canopy to provide shade, its flowing concrete structure is both symbolic as a civic building and functional in regulating temperatures. shading louvres on the east and west protect the interior from direct glare, while courtyards allow sunlight into the heart of the building – in this way, its design is very much a response to place and climate. the project has played a vital role in regenerating this former industrial quarter of the city.’

the concrete barrel vaulted roof is textured and exposed

the thermal mass of the concrete soffits with chilled beams naturally regulate the temperatures of the offices

the abundant park is adjacent to the city hall