Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Puerto Madero View Northwards

View from the Docks in Puerto Madero Northwards on the Puente de la Mujer and the City Center of Buenos Aires, Argentina
The picture offers you a view straight into the second of four docks of Puerto Madero. You are looking northwards to Buenos Aires' city center. In the distance you may recognize the Puente de la Mujer (woman's bridge) but only if your sight is good.
I can't help it but the district of Puerto Madero appears to me like the sleeping beauty in the fairy tale that has not been awoken yet. You rarely see people on the streets and the few you see are mostly tourists. I guess renovation is not enough to create a vibrant new neighborhood. What this area really needs is a good mix of locals, newcomers and last but not least a handful creatively diverse people.

9 comments:

stromsjo said...

...and a reasonably sound economy. No, renovation isn't enough but it's a darn good start so just wait and see!

Lowell said...

I don't know the area, but I think this is a great photo...wonderfully composed; it gives a sense of the massiveness of the river and the city to which it flows.

EG CameraGirl said...

It's such a pretty area that I wonder why more people don't frequent it. Has anyone held an exciting event here to encourage people to visit it? Nice photo!

Andreea said...

I was able to see the bridge so I guess my sight is good (it also helps that I know the unusual shape of the bridge).
I had lunch in Puerto Madero a few times (I've visited BA in 2006 and 2008) and during the week most people there were tourists but on weekends many people looked like locals (no cameras on their shoulders). I liked the area, it's nice and peaceful, a good place for a stroll. I thought they did a good job in revamping this former industrial area.

Rajesh said...

Fantastic snap. Very well taken.

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

People do visit this area - be it as tourist, on business or education purposes. But there's nothing to come back to except for a dozen of pricey restaurants. How many times can you possibly marvel at a fancy bridge? I think they did a decent job in redeveloping this area but IMHO they've created an enormous urban monostructure with an indifferent and dismissive architecture that could be anywhere in the world. But maybe Per is right when he says that the area needs more time. The past 20 years did obviously not suffice. Buenos Aires, however, is doing its best to improve the liveliness. I personally would vote for more diversity and personality in this area.

Andreea said...

You're right, it is monotonous architecture that can be anywhere in the world and maybe in need of a soul. I had no idea that it was renovated 20 years ago, I thought it was only 5 years.

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

@Andreea
You are right, most buildings on the east side were constructed after 1998, e.g. the Buenos Aires Hilton opened in 1999. The beginning for the urbanization of the former port of Buenos Aires, however, dates back to 1989 when the Corporación Antiguo Puerto Madero was founded. Early plans to revitalize the area reach back to the 1940s.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more that this area has a lot of potential but a few years ago it was still far away from what it could be. At times it felt like there was just me and some police officers.

By an accident I ended up eating in one of the most famous touristy restaurants there is. A lucky accident as I've never tasted as good meat as I had there. Never ever.