A commercial corner of Palermo Soho with the street planters, the trees, and a special note for the terrace which has a light pergola (trellis) and plants behind. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives, 2024.
I've been born in Downtown Buenos Aires, or "the Capital", now called Ciudad Autonóma de Buenos Aires. I grew up in the Gran Buenos Aires, which is the province side, but my heart always comes back to the "Capital".
In 1990 I moved to Palermo Viejo (Old Palermo), which is the peripheral old (low-rise) neighborhood of the top (high rise) Palermo area, and I could observe how it was beginning to grow, to slowly gentrify with lots of restaurants which at the time, in the middle of hyper inflation, were trying so hard to survive. The restaurants were established in old houses, the type of "casa chorizo", so called due to the continuity of one room after the other, with the kitchen at the rear and a side patio.
So, little by little, the neighborhood was becoming more dense and colorful. Along the years, more businesses were added, and if one wants to look for contemporary design in clothes, jewelry, Palermo Soho is one of the places to go.
Not too much attention is being paid to this neighborhood landscape, and it is worth to see that the old trees are still in place. Now, with some non native species we did not have before, due to the climate change, like palm trees. And all the residents or tenants still keep the love for terraces full of plants. I think this is a very Argentinian thing. So, regardless how gentrified it has become, Palermo Soho-Hollywood is still keeping its original domesticity.
Two top trade marks retails in pure black and white, but the end of perspective will always show the colorful houses with the hanging plants. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives, 2024.
The corner of Cabernet restaurant. We can enjoy the top of the right of way trees from the terrace, and the plants inside the terrace. The interior patio decorated with low trees and bushes allows the urban space to flow in. As always, the perspective is showing domestic terraces with hanging plants. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives, 2024.
Overall the commercial neighborhood, -which I still don't see too much difference between Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood-, is covered by murals, and or graffiti, with some plain colors here and there. Some murals are really pieces of urban art, some others are improvised and more spontaneous. Of course we have buildings in contrast, usually of the fanciest trade marks, which are plain black or white, but a few houses behind, the plants show up again. The trees are always present surpassing the terraces, which are always full of planters, as shown in my picture above (January 2024, personal archive).
Side view of Cabernet restaurant and the interesting old trees perspective. At the far left end, a mural with very bright colors. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives, 2024.
Graffiti, collage, different materials-textures, and the vines. It must be a very nice view when the restaurants lights are on. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives, 2024.
I like the Eclecticism as a result of so many recycled buildings. We can see contemporary materials in contrast with the old brick walls, the modern plain metal profiles against the wrought iron intricacy; the small windows with iron bars and the huge displays glass; the gray or white or black against so many bright colors, a world of textures... And only one element unifying it all: the domestic and the urban landscape.
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