Marvelous isn’t it? This is the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes. More than just a water tower it’s a stunning example of Belle Epoque architecture.
Built between 1887 and 1894 this palace wasn’t always a museum and archive. It originally housed twelve massive iron water tanks. Each tank held 6000 cubic meters of water. Imagine over 72 million liters of water stored here. That’s enough to supply a huge part of Buenos Aires. The iron structure itself is one of the largest cast iron structures in the world. It required 400 workers seven years of labor.
The Palacio was a joint effort. British engineers Bateman Parsons & Bateman designed it. The Swedish engineer Karl Nystromer and Norwegian architect Olaf Boye oversaw construction. The beautiful facade is thanks to the constructor Juan B Medici. Funding issues led to privatization. The Samuel B Hale company finished the project. The exterior’s 300000 multi-colored glazed terracotta tiles came from Royal Doulton in Britain. Each tile a tiny piece of history.
Notice the intricate details. The caryatids at the entrance. The escutcheons representing Argentina’s provinces. The landscaped gardens even include a bust of Guillermo Villanueva. He was the first director of the city’s waterworks.
In 1978 the water tanks were decommissioned. The Palacio became a National Historic Monument in 1989. Today it’s home to the AySA cultural program. This includes a water museum a library and importantly an extensive historical archive.
This archive holds over 350000 files detailing Buenos Aires’ construction history. From water connection applications to plumbing plans it’s a treasure trove of information. Imagine researchers and students poring over these records. They unlock stories of the city’s growth. The archive holds about 2800000 plans for 322000 properties. These date back to 1889 providing a unique glimpse into the past.
So next time you see the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes remember its dual nature. It’s a beautiful building a testament to engineering prowess. And a vital historical archive preserving Buenos Aires’ legacy. It’s more than just a water tower it’s a living piece of history.