On July 13, 2026, Home » Projects » Lariviere Foundation Connects Cultural Architecture with the Industrial Identity of La Boca. Cultural transformation and urban reorientation represent the choice of the Lariviere Foundation's location within the industrial block of La Boca as an architectural and urban step that goes beyond providing a new headquarters to become part of a re-reading of the neighborhood's history and urban trajectory. La Boca has seen a continuous decline in population density since the 1980s following the closure of the port and the cessation of associated activities, transitioning from a vibrant center known for its “cantina” restaurants on Nicuchia Street to an area striving to redefine its identity. In this context, the project contributes to supporting the region's cultural transformation, benefiting from the consultations provided by Facundo de Zuvieria and Paula de Zuvieria, to enhance its presence as a new artistic and cultural destination.
The building establishes a direct relationship with its urban surroundings, as it is located near the Osina del Arte center and a short distance from Almirante Brown Street, one of the main axes of the neighborhood. This positioning gives the building a clear presence within the old industrial fabric, where its bulk interacts with the material character of the place without separating from it. The daily passage through the site transforms into a visual experience evoking the industrial history of the area and its transformations, enhancing the cultural extension initiated by the PROA Foundation in the Vuelta de Rocha area nearly two decades ago, in line with the changes cities are experiencing.
The interior design relies on a dual spatial organization, where the main exhibition hall, with its double height, occupies about half of the total area of the building, giving it a visual presence that corresponds to the Lariviere collection of contemporary photography in Latin America, which includes over 3,000 photographs. Conversely, the upper floor houses a specialized library displaying Ediciones Larivière publications and an archive, alongside a multi-purpose hall overlooking the street, linking cultural activities within the building with the surrounding urban scene.
The exterior cladding reflects the relationship between the industrial character of La Boca and the cultural function of the building. Materials with an industrial appearance were chosen to harmonize with the identity of the area, while approaching the facade reveals the precision of its execution using folded anodized aluminum panels. This treatment not only simulates the surrounding environment but also employs properties of the material to interact with changes in light throughout the day, giving the facade a changing presence that reflects the uniqueness of the building within its industrial context, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate materials.
The central entrance reflects the simplicity of the gabled roof, revealing a symmetrical axis that organizes the overall composition of the building. The door and the sliding shutter on the first floor share proportions and appearance, allowing for multiple visual configurations depending on their positioning. When opened together, a double-height central space connects the interior with the exterior, while their different positions grant the facade a variable presence that breaks its rigidity, in a treatment related to contemporary design concepts.
The spatial sequence within the building is based on a clear contrast in materials. After passing through the entrance and library, dominated by warm-finished oak wood, the pathway opens onto the main exhibition hall that evokes the appearance of an industrial warehouse with a gabled roof supported by prominent structural trusses. This transition between the warmth of wood and the industrial character of the hall confirms the project's identity, as Jorge Silvetti expressed in his opening speech: “It’s a warehouse… but what a warehouse!”
The Lariviere Foundation project not only adds a new cultural building to La Boca but reuses the industrial block as a tool for redirecting the urban landscape. Through the sober mass, flexible program, and language of materials with industrial reference, the project proposes a model linking spatial memory and contemporary cultural transformations, making architecture a means of reshaping the relationship between the city and its industrial heritage within the context of changing cities.
However, this proposal grants architecture a potential that may exceed its actual impact in addressing urban decline. Cultural institutions can produce a strong symbolic presence...