Ilustro para no olvidar is a documentation, research, and registration initiative led by architect Natalia Karbabian that aims to illustrate heritage architecture that has been demolished or is at risk within the city of Buenos Aires. Serving as a testament and a form of protest, this artistic project seeks to honor these buildings of architectural, cultural, and emotional heritage value that define our identity, belonging, and the narrative of our history as a city and its citizens, understanding Buenos Aires as a melting pot of eras, cultures, and social classes. Currently, the project has recorded more than 50 illustrations, with over 250 still left to draw.
In conversation with Natalia Karbabian, we set out to understand the origins of this project, which aims to compile all the illustrations into a book alongside the anecdotes, memories, and experiences of those who lived in these places. At the same time, we sought to understand the ongoing dialogue with civil and neighborhood organizations, explore the role that this architecture plays in our cities, and discuss how other initiatives could be implemented in Buenos Aires to recover its disappearing architectural heritage.
