Kavanagh building, Art Deco skyscraper in Retiro, Argentina.
The Kavanagh Building is a 120-meter-tall skyscraper with 31 stories of reinforced concrete that gradually narrows toward its top. The structure houses 105 residential units served by 12 elevators and features air conditioning systems integrated into the original design.
Construction started in 1934 and was completed in 14 months, making it the tallest building in Latin America by 1936. This rapid completion demonstrated Argentina's modern construction techniques and economic prosperity during that period.
The building reflects a blend of modernist and rationalist design, representing Argentina's economic growth and technical progress during the 1930s.
The building is located in the Retiro neighborhood and is easily recognizable from the street because of its distinct vertical form. The surrounding public space allows visitors to view the architectural façade from multiple angles.
Corina Kavanagh was a millionaire rancher of Irish descent, not an heir: she sold two ranches at age 39 to finance her own skyscraper and lived for years in an apartment occupying the entire 14th floor. A legend holds that she demanded the building block the Anchorena family's view of the church they had built, after they opposed her daughter's engagement to an Anchorena son.
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