The intervention of architectural-urban residential heritage in Mar del Plata: an open problem

Abstract

The handling of heritage, regarding the broad spectrum of real estate it comprises, involves multiple approaches to its safeguarding. In particular, the incorporation of new architecture in existing works, at any scale, represents a current challenge. This dilemma has an extensive background in the history of architecture and urbanism, alongside other associated areas within European and Latin American frameworks. However, in the second decade of the 21st century, the problems related to contemporary contributions in historical architectural and urban frameworks, show an ongoing difficulty to dialogue, giving and resist, or to parley between the surviving legacy and the additions that it will unfailingly receive through time. In this sense, what happened in the city of Mar del Plata regarding the interventions of its picturesque contexts, is of interest. Past and present dynamics, alongside a deficient process of heritage protection, have affected their typical landscapes generated in the first half of the 20th century. Therefore, this article reflects on the evolution of this residential legacy in two characteristic historical neighborhoods, from a mainly qualitative perspective, through the interpretation of primary and secondary sources. Thus, the goal is to analyze the connection between this heritage, its interventions since the beginning of the 21st century, and the local conservation regulations, to begin to understand the pending challenges, and as a result, to formulate possible responses.