The Municipality of General Pueyrredón and the Buenos Aires Province Association of Architects announced a Provincial Ideas and Preliminary Projects Competition for the 40th Anniversary Memorial of the fallen soldiers in the Malvinas and its area of influence. This scope included the plaza of the same name and its surrounding area in the city of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires province.
The concept is based on creating a memorial to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Malvinas War through a landscape intervention. This design symbolizes the grief this event left on society, inviting contemplation and reflection on the events and their painful consequences for the combatants, their families, and the community as a whole. The jury awarded first prize to OP Arquitectos (Marcela Orcaje - Gonzalo Pérez), with Fernando Urquiola as associate and Johana Kleich, Lucio Ceci, Nazareno Flores, and Carlos Brizuela as collaborators. Explore the project below.
Project description courtesy of the architects. For us, designing a memorial for the Malvinas campaign means rethinking its significance in our history. The reflection we propose highlights the need to establish the role of these commemorative elements in our cities and their potential form in contemporary times.
In this regard, the proposal operates on four guidelines that aim to synthesize the design approach: creating a memorial that incorporates a contemporary perspective on the Malvinas cause, addressing the inseparable relationship between the original cenotaph and the new design, constructing a public space of urban scale for mass gatherings, and incorporating a smaller-scale memorial site designed for introspection, inspiring reflection and contemplation.
The geometry of the new complex is a regular layout, a mark on the landscape. It is integrated into the area, becoming the compositional axis that structures the site. It is organized around a simple and clear scheme, where the primary form uses an equilateral triangle to configure the center of gravity of the layout and shape the memorial's most intimate area. Additionally, a secondary, analogous form creates a system of steps that support the civic plaza and its relationship with the original cenotaph.
The triangle represents manifestation, illumination, revelation, and a higher perspective. Behind its symbolism lies a metaphysical power that ancient traditions and beliefs incorporated into their spiritual practices. Its shape can be seen in ancient architecture, where it was believed to possess deep power in the spiritual realm. It also represented the three elements of our being that must be balanced to achieve enlightenment...
- Mind, body, and spirit
- Heaven, hell, and earth
- Past, present, and future
- Birth, growth, and death
Within the triangular-plan memorial, blades extend along each side of the geometry, establishing connections with the surroundings. The paths unfold between slopes that create a unique atmosphere, evoking a sense of introspection and discovery, akin to a pilgrimage. Here, elements representing life emerge: water, fire, and earth are complemented by the fourth element, present through the local winds.
The complex's metropolitan-scale presence is materialized through the Path of the Fallen, where 649 rods anchored to the ground abstractly commemorate each of the heroes of the Malvinas. The plaza serves as a stage for dialogue between communities and their symbols of identity—an open, inclusive, and landmark space that encourages an integrated reading of the entire complex.
All existing tree species are preserved, and the concept of identity is reinforced by planting species native to the region. The layout of the complex takes advantage of existing clearings and integrates the closest trees, consolidating the relationship between architecture and the environment.
This article was written by Agustina Iñiguez. The translation is powered by AI.
