In the heart of Palermo, a large iron and glass structure houses species whose origins date back to distant eras predating the dinosaurs. This is the main greenhouse of the Carlos Thays Botanical Garden in Buenos Aires.
Exhibited and award-winning at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle alongside the Eiffel Tower, the greenhouse was brought to Argentina in 1897.
The building is approximately 35 meters long by 8 meters wide. A high dome crowns the central space, separating two rectangular wings, while late 19th-century Art Nouveau lines define its large glazed surfaces.
Inside, collections of bromeliads and ferns are preserved and identified in precise Latin. These species descend from a lineage dating back up to 425 million years. The building's materials and morphology maintain the indoor humidity and temperature required to sustain nearly two thousand plant species.
The glazed structure allows sunlight to pass through the glass and heat the interior. This solar radiation remains trapped inside the structure, unable to escape back through the glass. Furthermore, there are no windows, which prevents drafts that could lower the temperature.
In the past, boilers were used to heat the space for tropical plants. Today, these boilers are no longer in use, meaning most of the current species are subtropical.
Due to these unique characteristics, it is considered the only remaining greenhouse of its style in the world. In 1996, it was declared a National Historic Monument.
For those wishing to visit, the botanical garden features five greenhouses, though only one is open to the public. The main greenhouse offers free admission on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
This article was written by Mariana Etulain. The translation is powered by AI.
