The (un)covered city
This chronicle is part of a collection of impressions gathered during numerous walks in the Argentine capital. They are all available in three languages (EN,ES,FR) and are part of the MIBA project developed on Senses Atlas.
Despite what the omnipresence of cars on the streets might suggest, Buenos Aires is a city that is entirely accessible by public transport and on foot. Its wide sidewalks, airy streets, and mix of residential and commercial areas make it a city that is perfect for long walks.
Buenos Aires is a city that lives to the rhythm of the seasons. In summer, it is best to stick to parks and streets where the tree canopy provides protection from the heat. In winter, the cold and reduced light can limit repeated outings. In autumn, the orange leaves of the falling trees cover the pavement. Spring sees the city slowly awaken. Each season is a different scene, and even the evergreen trees that remain colored in winter turn yellow or purple in spring.
With its colors, lights, and nice temperature, spring is the season when every walk in the city is spectacular. It is a breath of fresh air at the end of winter and a respite before the summer heat. The tipas and jacarandas, iconic trees of the city, also bloom.
The city rightly allows vegetation to invade houses, buildings, and streets, making spring and summer synonymous with hide-and-seek. Hidden by foliage, buildings are not always visible, and balconies are barely discernible through the gaps. Climbing plants regain their foliage and cover the facades, and houses hide behind the plants in gardens and on balconies. A sublime organic dialogue unfolds, constantly evolving between the built and the living, contributing to the richness and uniqueness of Buenos Aires.
And yet, it must be said that every year I rush before the end of winter to enjoy certain corners of the city one last time. Even though it’s the season I like the least, if you want to enjoy the city’s architecture and the hundreds of buildings that are hidden away the rest of the year, this is the time to do so. A paradox between the inhabitants and their habitat is irrevocably established. The city’s architecture is revealed in winter when we cover ourselves up, then we uncover ourselves in summer while its buildings are now completely covered.
In a way, the buildings that populate the city are also constantly evolving, and we must nurture this perception. Despite the artificiality of the urban environment, the solution is to open it up and reintroduce life into it, to preserve and encourage it. Each season has its own rhythm, and this influences our life in the city, even though our individual and collective lives, dictated by the urban system and its excesses, seem to desperately want to break free from it.
