Beneath this pink facade lies a story of power. It is the story of Casa Rosada. Have you ever wondered why it’s pink?
Casa Rosada has been the seat of Argentine political power for centuries. It was the official residence of Spanish governors long before Argentine independence in 1816.
Let’s journey back to 1580. Explorer Juan de Garay founded Buenos Aires. He ordered a large trench to be dug. The soil raised embankments for a fortress. It was first called “Real Fortaleza de San Juan Baltasar de Austria”. Some knew it as “Castillo de San Miguel”.
In 1595, Governor Fernando de Zárate built a stronger fortress. It had a moat and a drawbridge. This structure stood for over a century.
The early 19th century saw Argentina’s independence. The building housed various national governments. Juntas, Triumvirates, and Governors all resided here. Even Argentina’s first president, Bernardino Rivadavia, called it home.
After decades of abandonment, President Bartolomé Mitre reoccupied it in 1862. He remodeled the old residence. President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento later embellished it. He landscaped the gardens. Most notably, he painted the facade pink. It is a color that has remained ever since.
President Julio A. Roca decided to enlarge the Government House. It was located on the corner of Balcarce and Rivadavia streets. The neighboring Post & Telegraph Office was next door. It had been built in 1873.
Today’s Casa Rosada is a joining of these two buildings. This occurred in 1886. A portico was built to connect them. This portico is now the entrance overlooking Plaza de Mayo.
The ancient fort disappeared with these changes. However, some walls and a porthole remain. They are preserved in the Casa Rosada Museum.
Before Casa Rosada took its current form, there was the New or Taylor Customs House. English architect Edward Taylor built it in 1855. It stood behind the fort, overlooking the river. It symbolized Buenos Aires’ growing commercial power.
The New Customs House had storage rooms and fifty-one vaulted warehouses. A 300-meter pier extended from its central tower. This tower featured a clock and beacon. It was demolished during the Puerto Madero project. Its foundations now lie beneath Plaza Colón.
In 1873, President Sarmiento ordered a post office built. It was on the site of the demolished south wing of the Fort of Buenos Aires. Swedish architect Carl Kihlberg designed it. It combined French and Italian Neo-Renaissance elements.
President Roca wanted the Government House to match the new post office’s standards. Swedish architect Henrik Aberg designed the project. It involved demolishing the fort. He constructed a building identical to the post office. A gallery balcony was added for festivities.
Architect Francesco Tamburini merged the Post Office building into the Government House. He designed a large central arch to link them. This arch aligned with the New Customs House and the Old Market.
Casa Rosada has three floors on Balcarce Street. The connected Casa Rosada Museum has four floors. It also has a basement stretching almost one block. The original rooms have direct light and ventilation. Inner rooms receive light from galleries around the patios.
The building’s structure includes bearing walls and brick-vaulted ceilings. The Casa Rosada was officially inaugurated in 1898. It happened during the second presidency of General Julio A. Roca.
So, next time you see Casa Rosada, remember its long and varied history. It is a history of fortresses, post offices, and the ambition of a nation. It is a building that has evolved. It reflects Argentina’s own journey through time.