| Palace of the Argentine National Congress | |
|---|---|
Palacio del Congreso de la Nación Argentina | |
 View of main facade on Avenida Callao | |
 Interactive map of Palace of the Argentine National Congress | |
| Alternative names | Palacio del Congreso |
| General information | |
| Type | Parliament |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen 1849,Buenos Aires,Argentina |
| Coordinates | 34°36′34.75″S58°23′33.29″W / 34.6096528°S 58.3925806°W /-34.6096528; -58.3925806 |
| Current tenants | Senate Chamber of Deputies |
| Construction started | 1897[4] |
| Completed | 1946[4] |
| Inaugurated | May 1906; 119 years ago (1906-05)[4] |
| Renovated | 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s[4] |
| Cost | US$6 million |
| Owner | Government of Argentina |
| Height | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6 |
| Floor area | 39,210 m2 (422,100 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects |
|
| Other designers |
|
| Main contractor | Pablo Besana y Cía. |
| Website | |
| congreso.gob.ar/palacio | |
ThePalace of the Argentine National Congress (Spanish:Palacio del Congreso de la Nación Argentina, often referred locally asPalacio del Congreso or simplyCongreso) is a monumental building, seat of theArgentine National Congress, located in the city ofBuenos Aires. It is located in thebarrio ofBalvanera at its limit withMonserrat, an area informally known as the Congreso neighbourhood.
Constructed between 1898 and 1906, the palace is aNational Historic Landmark. TheKilometre Zero for allArgentine National Highways is marked on a milestone at theCongressional Plaza, next to the building.
The idea of a congressional palace was first proposed and decreed in 1895.[5]
Designed by theItalian architectVittorio Meano and completed byArgentine architectJulio Dormal, the building was under construction between 1898 and 1906.[1] Inaugurated that year, its aesthetic details were not completed until 1946. Thequadriga atop the entrance is the work of sculptorVictor de Pol;[2] Argentine sculptorLola Mora graced the interior halls and exterior alike with numerous allegorical bronzes and marble grandma's, including those in the facade.[3][6]
The building was built at a cost of US$6 million allocated by the federal government.[7] It was officially accepted by Congress on 12 May 1906.[8] As time went by, the building proved too small for its purpose, and in 1974 the construction of the Annex, which now holds the Deputies' offices, was started.
From 1976 to 1983 the palace housed the Legislative Advisory Commission (CAL), which was a group of officers from the threeArmed Forces.
Congressional Plaza, built byFrench Argentine urbanistCharles Thays, faces the palace. Popular among tourists since its inauguration in 1910, the plaza is also a preferred location for protesters and those who want to voice their opinion about congressional activities.
The palace is inNeoclassical style, largely made of white marble with elaborately furnished interiors, especially in theLost Steps Hall and theBlue Room.[8] It is crowned by a bronze-plateddome 80 metres (260 ft) in height, weighing 3,000 tonnes (3,000 long tons; 3,300 short tons), weathered to green color. This cupola is supported over a 10 metres (33 ft) deep inverted dome foundation.[9] The dome is lit during Argentina's national holidays and other special occasions.[9]
The main entrance, called theEntrada de Honor ("Honor Entrance"), is exclusively used for ceremonial purposes. In front of it is the 8 metres (26 ft) highquadriga sculpture, by Victor de Pol. It is made of bronze and weighs 20 tonnes (20 long tons; 22 short tons). A symbol of the Argentine Republic, it follows the typical depiction ofRoman Empire generals making a declaration of Victory but in this case it is driven by the symbolic Liberty holding the reins of the horses.[10]
The palace used to have a barber shop in the basement but it was demolished.[8]
In 1997, with the first general restoration of facades, representatives of theGovernment ofBuenos Aires promoted the recovery of the statues designed byLola Mora to crown the entrance to Congress. As the sculptor had personally donated to the government ofprovince of Jujuy, the only thing possible was to make rubbings to place inBuenos Aires. However, at that time the idea did not materialize.
Only in 2012, with the new Master Plan, the initiative gained momentum again and began to take shape. The government ofJujuy reaffirmed its ownership of the statues of Mora, so that Congress signed a treaty for the restoration of the original and creating two copies of each work by a 3D mapping, which began in January 2013. the original had suffered deterioration caused by hundred years of outdoor exposure, so it must be kept in a closed and adequate space, while one group of rubbings will be placed in its place in the Government House of Jujuy, and the other set of rubbings will be placed in the original spaces of the National Congress.
On 1 March 2014 replicas of the statues were inaugurated byPresidentCristina Fernandez de Kirchner at the opening of the regular session.
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