Barrio de las Mil Casas, Workers residential district in La Plata, Argentina.
Barrio de las Mil Casas is a residential complex in La Plata divided by narrow alleys into three parallel sections that run between two main streets. The homes follow a chorizo-style layout with narrow street-facing sides and deep interiors, featuring front rooms, covered walkways, and interior courtyards.
The neighborhood began in 1886 near the Tolosa railway workshops as South America's first workers housing development. The wealthy couple Juan and Emma de la Barra funded the project, creating homes for railway workers and their families in this new district.
The neighborhood was designed as housing for railway workers and included communal spaces to support their daily needs and social life. The layout featured dedicated areas for education, entertainment, and religious gatherings, showing how much the founders cared about worker welfare.
The neighborhood is easy to walk through since the parallel rows and narrow alleys create a clear pattern that guides you naturally. Keep in mind that most houses are occupied homes, so exterior viewing is the best way to appreciate the layout and architecture without disturbing residents.
The homes were built using an innovative layout for the time, with narrow passages allowing many houses to fit efficiently into a compact area. This practical design became a model that other workers neighborhoods later adopted in the region.
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