In 1959 the architect Clorindo Testa along with SEPRA studio won the competition for the new headquarters of the then called Bank of London and South America, proposing to modify concepts hitherto motionless in architecture for banks. Today we look at this building through this photo essay that Federico Cairoli shares with us.

The former Bank of London in Buenos Aires is one of the best examples of brutalist architecture of the city. In this photographic report by Federico Cairoli, we see how the Clorindo Testa's building relates to the city, how it opens to the narrow streets of Buenos Aires financial district, creating a continuity of the urban space inside the building, framing the neighbors buildings from inside. In short, all the aspects that make this building so unique to its type.

Surrounded by the National Bank of Argentina, designed by Bustillo in 1940 and other buildings of opaque and heavy facades, the Bank of London reconstructs the municipal lines of both streets with a display of handmade patterned concrete, with curved and perforated forms that frame the city. Behind this outer skeleton runs a clear glass skin. In the corner, the concrete facade breaks and the carpentry glass it is setback to generate the access, emphasized by a suspended concrete wall to limit the visual space.

The intention of the project was to create a continuity between the interior and urban space, a large covered plaza. Space is multiple, complex, infinite, surprising, suggestive, captivating, dynamic. It allows visual views in all directions. The light comes filtered through the perforated walls illuminating surfaces of concrete.

The three lower levels emerge from the ground projecting into the inner space as cantilevers. The top three levels are suspended from the ceiling by steel cables to achieve a greater spatial freedom. The stairs and elevators are sculptural pieces of great dynamism and strong presence in space.

The building, for its urban architectural approach is one of the most original, bold and important manifestations of international architecture of the 60s.

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Federico Cairoli (1985, Santa Fe, AR) es fotógrafo y arquitecto (FADU-UNL). Su obra fotográfica y audiovisual se enfoca principalmente en temas relacionados con arquitectura y ciudad. Actualmente sus trabajos son publicados en distintas revistas y medios digitales especializados a nivel nacional e internacional. 

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Clorindo Manuel José Testa was an Argentine architect who has achieved greater recognition in the second half of the 20th century.

He was born in Benevento, Italy in 1923. Together with his family he came to Buenos Aires, Argentina when he was months old. In his childhood he liked to build ships and for that reason he thought that naval engineering would be his destiny. In this way, he studies electromechanical engineering for a brief period, with the intention of accessing the Naval Engineering school at the University of La Plata. Then, almost by chance, he entered the School of Architecture of the University of Buenos Aires, graduated as part of the first class of the new Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in 1948 and began in the final era of Argentine rationalism. Influenced by Le Corbusier, he worked as a draftsman with the Austral team formed by Ferrari Hardoy, Vivanco and Antonio Bonet, who developed the Regulatory Plan for the City of Buenos Aires.

In 1949 he obtained a scholarship from the University of Buenos Aires to make a study trip to Europe. He returns after 3 years, and wins the national competition for the construction of the Argentine Chamber of Construction. After obtaining his title, Testa begins his professional activity by associating in a studio with Francisco Rossi, David Gaido and Boris Dabinovic. This team will work in association until 1958, marking the first stage of the Clorindo work.

Among his most important works in the history of Argentine architecture are the former Bank of London and the National Library. He was also a permanent career plastic artist, with prizes and participation in biennials and museums.

He died in Buenos Aires on April 11, 2013.
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