“Home sweet home” echoes through the walls. But what does “home” really mean? Today we explore Casa Colectiva Martín Rodríguez. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to Argentina’s social housing efforts. It is located in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Casa Colectiva Martín Rodríguez stands as the fifth and final housing project. The Comisión Nacional de Casas Baratas or CNCB built it. This translates to The National Commission of Cheap Houses. The CNCB was established in 1915. It was due to national law N. 9677. Juan Cafferata promoted it. He was a conservative deputy. The CNCB managed construction for three decades. They built multi-family rental buildings. They also created neighborhoods of single-family homes.
However the CNCB was dissolved in 1944. This followed the 1943 coup d’état. It was replaced by the Consejo de Vivienda. Later it was replaced by the Administración Nacional de la Vivienda.
Completed in 1943 Casa Colectiva Martín Rodríguez faces Avenida Pedro de Mendoza. It sits near the Riachuelo River. It is close to Caminito Street and the Avellaneda Bridge. The building contains 141 apartments. There are 63 one-bedroom units. Fifty apartments have two bedrooms. Twenty-eight have three bedrooms. The building’s layout resembles a “G”. This creates an internal courtyard. It is isolated from street views. It still allows direct access.
Later other state-sponsored social housing projects were built. They went up on adjacent lots. One was another multi-family building. Its layout was in the shape of an “E”. There was also a set of four towers.
The Casa Colectiva Martín Rodríguez shows architectural rationalism. It reflects a commitment to provide affordable housing. The building covers a land area of 3151.6 square meters. It provided much-needed homes for working-class families. It was a project by the Comisión Nacional de Casas Baratas.
In 1943 the CNCB became part of a new organization. This was the Secretaría de Trabajo y Previsión. Colonel Perón was in charge. Casa Colectiva Martín Rodríguez was CNCB’s last project. It featured six floors with four garden patios. A space facing Pedro de Mendoza remains abandoned.
Casa Colectiva Martín Rodríguez represents a pivotal moment. It highlights Argentina’s efforts in social housing. It offers a glimpse into the country’s architectural and political past.