Micro Urban Architecture: A Retrospective Capsule in Caminito, Buenos Aires

Read the original version in Spanish here.

Published on November 25, 2019

Música para volar is the winning project of the “Micro Urban Architecture – Caminito” experience, a joint exercise conducted by the School of Architecture, Urbanism, and Design at the National University of Córdoba, Buenos Aires (Cátedra Equipamiento A, FAUD UNC) and the Politecnico di Milano.

With the participation of fifth-year students, the competition focused on aspects such as neighborhood identity, sustainability, and inclusion, seeking to understand social dynamics to generate small-scale spaces that propose new ways of inhabiting the city—catering not only to tourists but also to the daily users and residents of Caminito.

Project description submitted by the authors: The Equipamiento A course at the School of Architecture, Urbanism, and Design of the National University of Córdoba proposed an intervention exercise on a significant street in Argentina, in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano.

This proposal involves designing a mobile, transformable, small-scale space utilizing dry construction methods and featuring a complex program to serve the city. The goal was to develop the project and integrate it into the urban fabric using concepts of articulation and organization. Over 100 teams participated in the competition, with 19 projects shortlisted; “Música para Volar” was awarded first prize.

The “Música para Volar” capsule is located along a tourist route passing through key spots in the La Boca neighborhood, specifically situated at Vuelta de Rocha. This is a strategic point where every tour seems to both end and begin.

This micro-architecture activates both its surrounding urban environment and the behavior of its users. It activates the meaning of music and the history of the site. It activates emotion, which is so often forgotten in contemporary times. It is a vessel for sensations, shutting out the noise and auditory stimuli of the city to embrace darkness and retrospection. The design proposal is simple, subtle, and easy to execute. It respects the urban environment by creating a tango interpretation center, inviting reflection and introducing local porteño culture in an innovative way.

The musical experience features 5.1 surround sound in complete darkness. The interior materiality, the equipment, and, fundamentally, the sound work together to create not only a high-quality space but also an unforgettable experience.

We aim to foster as many connections inside the capsule as within the urban system itself, creating a pathway and a space for gathering and staying on top of the structure.