From a pioneer chemical factory to the new government headquarters of Buenos Aires city

Abstract

In April 2015, the Head of Government of the City of Buenos Aires moved to a new headquarters in the Parque de los Patricios neighbourhood located in the block limited by Uspallata, Iguazú, Atuel and Los Patos streets. The news spread with emphasis on the architectural characteristics of the building, its location next to the Park, and the novel fact that the City Government authorities are settling in neighbourhoods in the South zone. The construction had been presented as the use of an empty block in a neglected neighborhood area. But this property had a long uses' history that reflect neighbourhood transformations. The aim of the book was to gather original information about this place based on maps, plans, guides, notices, and documents. This note summarizes the history and points out that one of the pioneer factories of the chemical industry operated there: the Seeber oil margarine factory. This factory had a strange end: it ended up converted into a ghetto to confine homeless.