Edificio Shell Mex, Art Deco building at Diagonal Norte, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Edificio Shell Mex is an Art Deco office building at the junction of Diagonal Norte with Teniente General Juan D. Perón and Esmeralda streets in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires. Its wide corner follows the diagonal's line, with facades of San Luis granite and Italian travertine topped by a central clock like the one on the London head office. Three basements hold parking and a machine room, and an inner courtyard lights every floor.

The building was completed in 1936 by architects Calvo, Jacobs, and Gimenez as the headquarters for Shell petroleum company in Argentina. Its design reflected international corporate architecture trends that spread from Europe to South America during that decade.

The building displays English ceramic tiles within its internal courtyard and carries shell motifs on its doorways, making the oil company connection visible in its design details. These decorative touches are easy to spot when exploring the interior and noticing the fine craft work of the Art Deco style.

The building sits at the intersection of Diagonal Norte with Peron Street and Esmeralda Street in the heart of the city. The location is easily reached by public transport, and several cafes and shops surround the immediate area.

To achieve a symmetrical facade on the irregular plot left by the opening of Diagonal Norte, the project gave part of the land to the Municipality. The building also has three basements, the lowest for the machine room and the upper ones for parking, all lit by an internal courtyard.