Argentina gave the world an urban planning pioneer. Let’s discover Praça Carlos Paolera. This small square honors Carlos Maria Della Paolera. He was a famous Argentinian urban planner.
Carlos Paolera was the first South American to graduate from the Institute of Urbanism at the University of Paris. He studied there between 1921 and 1928. Paolera founded the Higher Institute of Urbanism. It was part of the School of Architecture at the University of Buenos Aires in 1946. This followed his efforts to create the first Urbanism professorships. These were at the Schools of Architecture in Rosario and Buenos Aires between 1929 and 1933.
From 1916, Carlos Paolera published works on urbanism. In 1920, he analyzed Paris’ Regulatory Plan. He actively participated in the Housing Congress in Buenos Aires. Marcel Poete supervised his thesis. Carlos Paolera played a key role in creating the symbol for urbanism. It was approved at the Urbanism Congress of 1935. November 8th became known internationally as “Urbanism Day”.
Praça Carlos Paolera sits in Tijuca at the intersection of São Francisco Xavier and Engenheiro Heitor Beltrão streets. In October 1986, the Rotary Club RJ Tijuca placed its Welcome Monument here.
The square is small. It sits between the Igreja São Francisco Xavier and Dr. Satamini street. A bronze plaque commemorating its inauguration disappeared. On the other side of Praça Carlos Paolera is a landmark. It marks the beginning of the Tijuca neighborhood. It likely marked the boundary between the old Freguesia do Engenho Velho and Tijuca.
The city recognized the square in 1981. Decree 3275 made it official. Lili Rose Cruz Oliveira and Nelson Aguiar mentioned it in their book. It is called Tijuca de rua em rua.
Carlos Paolera also has a street named after him in Buenos Aires. He designed the World Urbanism Day symbol. This day is celebrated in over 30 countries. Urbanist organizations use his symbol.
Think of Carlos Paolera. He shaped cities and created a day to honor urban planning. Praça Carlos Paolera is more than just a square. It is a tribute to a visionary.