Could this building be from Paris? That’s what Alfredo Chopitea thought in 1925. He saw a building in Paris and wanted one just like it in Buenos Aires. This is the Palacio de los Patos. It stands before us on Ugarteche 3050.
Alfredo Chopitea hired Henri Azière. Azière was a French architect. He drew up the plans without ever visiting Buenos Aires. But Chopitea wasn’t completely satisfied. The design had fewer apartments than he wanted. The central courtyard was too big.
So, Julio Senillosa stepped in. Senillosa was an Argentine architect. He modified Azière’s plans. He made the apartments smaller. He reduced the central courtyard. Senillosa made the building more spacious. However, the French facade remained.
The Palacio de los Patos was built between 1926 and 1929. It has 144 apartments. They range from 70 to 180 square meters. The building is divided into six sections. Each section has a ground floor and six stories. Patios and gardens take up a third of the area. Red, white, and black mosaics decorate hallways. Stained glass adorns many openings. Marble staircases add to the elegance.
Why “Palacio de los Patos?” One theory involves the 1929 crisis. Wealthy families had to sell their mansions. They moved to this complex. Its palatial style made them feel less diminished. “Pato” means someone without money in lunfardo slang. Ducks’ feathers stay dry even in water. “Seco” also means broke.
Another explanation involves a river or lagoon. It was supposedly near the building. Ducks swam there. However, historians say this waterway was gone long before the Palacio de los Patos was built. The name remains a mystery.
The Palacio de los Patos is a landmark. The Museo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires calls it a “living testimony of civic memory”. Many famous people have lived here. These include the actress Luisa Vehil. Also, the singer Gina María Hidalgo. Les Luthiers member Daniel Rabinovich. Even Charly García called this place home.
Today, the Palacio de los Patos remains elegant. Residents love living here. There is even a waiting list to get in. It’s a silent witness to the city’s history. The Palacio de los Patos stands as a symbol of Buenos Aires’ grandeur.