Juana Manso Building* – GRONDA
Architecture Juana Manso Building*Buenos Aires, Argentina
Courtesy of Rockwell Group. Completed while a Managing Director at Rockwell Group, Madrid.

An 85,000 m2 Mixed-use Office and Retail Complex

Located in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires’ newest and most glamorous neighborhood, Juana Manso was designed from the ground up to create a center for the social and commercial life of the neighborhood. Puerto Madero is a late 19th-century dockland area that was defined by British industrial architecture before it was transformed into a vibrant residential, office and leisure district. International architects have contributed to the area’s revitalization with prominent new buildings, including a residential complex by Foster + Partners, KPF’s Telecom tower, Philippe Starck’s Faena Hotel, and Cesar Pelli’s Repsol tower. In 2007, Santiago Calatrava created one of Bueno’s Aires architectural milestones, the Puente de la Mujer. The rotating bridge emphasizes Buenos Aires’ most prominent axis (Avenida de Mayo), which connects the Congress with the Government house and Puerto Madero. Juana Manso sits along this axis.

The first three levels of the building are occupied by a 16,200 m2 high-end retail center. Restaurants and gourmet markets offer a variety of al fresco dining with awe-inspiring views of the city. Numerous skylights and large windows bring abundant natural light to the shopping experience.

Above the shopping center, two six-level structures provide approximately 30,000 m2 of office space. The two office buildings are each defined by a curvilinear white roof and a curtain wall that consists of ultra-clear double-glazed glass. Each office building has an independent lobby clad in white Calacata marbles and black granites. Local artists were commissioned to create site specific works for both spaces. Awnings, water features, sidewalk furniture and landscaping encourage pedestrian activity around the building, which also includes 31,000 m2 of underground parking space. The distinctive white architecture pays tribute to the nearby Puente de La Mujer.

*Completed while a Managing Director at Rockwell Group, Madrid.