Wow What a transformation This is the Centro de Exposiciones in Buenos Aires. It wasn’t always this impressive.
The Centro de Exposiciones originally opened in 1970. It was meant to host exhibitions fairs and public events. The Expo France of 1970 was its grand opening. For two decades it was famous as the home of the Buenos Aires Book Fair. That eventually moved to La Rural.
The land became city property after the 1960 Sesquicentennial Exposition. The old buildings housed the University of Buenos Aires’ Architecture Faculty and the Italpark amusement park. After the faculty moved the site hosted an Israeli exhibition. Sadly a bomb attack in 1968 destroyed the buildings.
The city decided to rebuild. They constructed the Centro de Exposiciones we see today in 1970. The first building was temporary. It lacked modern amenities. For example it didn’t even have separate bathrooms for men and women. After complaints the building was finally upgraded and expanded.
Today the Centro de Exposiciones boasts six pavilions. It has 20000 square meters of indoor space and 3000 square meters outdoors. There are climate controlled areas an auditorium and even a restaurant. It’s a regular venue for the Buenos Aires Children’s and Youth Book Fair. Many other recurring events are held here.
It’s located in the Recoleta neighborhood on Couture Street. For a time it was the city’s most important exhibition center. It hosted the biggest fairs and congresses in Buenos Aires.
There were ambitious plans. In 1995 the mayor proposed a new congress center on the site. That never happened. Later in 2012 a new exhibition and convention center was proposed. This project generated controversy. There were debates over its priority given budget issues in other sectors. The winning design by architect Minond aimed to create a large green space. This would integrate nearby parks and semi-subterranean buildings. The resulting structure is almost invisible blending seamlessly into its surroundings. It opened in 2017.
The Centro de Exposiciones has hosted major events. These include the international book fair rock exhibitions and even a Björk concert. Its history is full of changes and events. It is a vital part of Buenos Aires’ cultural landscape. Enjoy exploring this dynamic center.