Trendbook Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and the largest city of Argentina. Is the biggest, most important and developed urban, financial, cultural, administrative, political, industrial and commercial hub of Argentina. It’s also the most important cultural center, being a city full of life
with many restaurants, coffee shops, theatres, tanguerías, pubs, discos, museums, shopping centers, art galleries and even a floating casino on the Río de La Plata (Silver River). It’s a trendy city that offers to the visitors a wide range of attractions and possibilities, with high quality hotels, wide events spaces equipped with high-technology and excelent professionals. Buenos Aires is a city of an exceptional beauty, that comes from the mixture of its own history, tradition, culture and its own people. Despite of all the diversity that we can find in the city, I’m going to discover what interesting and creative the city has to offer us.
Relation between Trends and Zeitgeist’s topic Trends, can be diverse and identified by the multiple networks, in an international way. Along this Trendbook, some of those trends are going to be associated to the diverse Cool examples presented. Trends introduce complementary views, diverse points of view and help us to understand the
changes of mentality. Some of those trends are: |Trend – Network| Bottom Of The Social Pyramid – Trendwatching; Pleasure Revenge – BrainReserve; Love Thy City – Trends Research Center; Luxury – Trend Hunter; Visual Culture– Trends Active.
Buenos Aires
Cool Examples
Buenos Aires
Urban Station The Urban Station it’s an alternative solution to the cowork spaces, to working at home or in coffees and takes the best of both office and coffee shop and wrapped it all up in a funky urban space. It’s paid by hour, has wide tables and a calm and comfort atmosphere. Has plugs and locks for your computer and super-fast wifi. The coffee shop part comes in the form of unlimited coffee, tea, mineral water, fruit, croissants and cookies, all part of the fee. The large and airy Urban Station offers art and business magazines and books to read, comfortable armchairs for lounging and casual meetings, fully equipped meeting rooms, printers, fax and scanners, plus lockers for your gear. If you get bored, or need to dash out for a moment, they even offer a few bikes at the door for you to borrow. It feels like office, coffee shop and home. Why it is Cool? It’s a workplace with a relaxed and modern environment with a lot of services. For those who want to take advantage of the space it offers acess to a real working area with all working conditions with also a more relaxed area and a small coffee shop. Avoids the excessive noise, the need of being on queues to buy a coffee and all the things that can distract us and stop creativity. Associated Trends: Design = Wow + How + How Good, Connected Society. Related Trends: Clanning, Experience Economy, Crowd Everything, Eco-sustainability, Urban Nomads.
Buenos Aires
Looped Rope Illuminators
The Cabos Adujados lamp it’s a piece that demands attention for itself. The notion of "lightness" was cast off by designer Silvina Descole in favor of a heavy piece that's knotted with character. For an authentic nautical aesthetic, the one-of-a-kind pendant lamps have been made of coiled rope that's been reclaimed from the La Boca shipyard in Buenos Aires. Each bundle of thick entwined cotton material covers a single lightbulb, illuminating the pale cord and emitting diffuse rays. This lamp is strung up with an anchor and suspended by a pulley system of wrought iron and wood. The lights' heights can be adjusted with more ease than a ship's mainsail. ´ Why it is Cool? It’s interesting how a simple nautical knot made of coiled rope can be transformed into a creative lamp. It’s a piece with a very functional design that turns the place into something cosy, modern and simple. The designer show us how, in a creative way, we can transform something simple into a functional and useful piece turning the place into something cosy. Associated Trend: Design = Wow + How + How Good Related Trends: Anchoring, Clanning, Experience Economy, Meaningful Nostalgia.
Buenos Aires
Theatre converted into a bookstore The El Ateneo Grand Splendid Theater in Buenos Aires it’s a place that attracts over one million visitors a year. This theater converted bookstore makes book shopping a grand experience. It’s an absolutely fantastic place for book enthusiasts and theatrical aficionados. What's amazing about this space is the preserved decor from the 1920s. The ceiling murals, ornate wood carvings and vintage sculptures maintain the feeling that this space was once filled with dancers, actors and theater lovers. The decor embraces visitors with a taste of the past, making this reading spot a favorite. The Grand Splendid Theater even provides a live piano player that will fill the space with acoustics that are bound to make this attraction an even more dramatic experience. Why it is Cool? An old theatre that was preserved and converted into a bookstore. The fact of maintaining the same decoration and that we can live all of that old atmosphere and the magic from the past makes the visit to the place and the book shopping an absolutely magic and fantastic experience. The detail of having a live piano player that fills the space with music helps enriching even more the experience. Associated Trend: Meaningful Nostalgia. Related Trends: Design = Wow + How + How Good, Bottom Of The Social Pyramid, Luxury, Experience Economy.
Buenos Aires
Accordion DVD Case
“The Buenos Aires Days and Nights of Tango” is musically Bound. The collection is found in the folds of an accordion. The collection features seven DVDs and is presented in a replica of the real bandoneón, handcrafted and with a unique serial number. The set also has two booklets in English and Spanish with photographs and biographies of all the artists included. “The Buenos Aires Days and Nights of Tango” features an interesting packaging concept that will make buyers happily surprised. Why it is Cool? Introducing a DVDS’ collection in a packaging that reproduce in a real size an instrument that is connected to tango, giving it a special feeling and a very strong connection. It’s a package with a very appealing, atractive and creative design that makes the difference and that offers to the one who buy the collection a unique and different experience. Associated Trend: Design = Wow + How + How Good. Related Trends: Clanning, Small Indulgences, Experience Economy, Meaningful Nostalgia, Identities Narrated.
Buenos Aires
EcoFriendly Furnishing
The Buenos Aires duo, Lucas Desimone e Matias Resich, are the masterminds behind the project “Filmantes Hanging Shelf”, a domestic necessity for any motion picture mogul. Capitalizing on the booming eco-friendly market, the pair has made use of abandoned film stock. Operating under the brand name 'VU35,' the Filmantes Film Shelf pairs long 35mm-wide reels with durable wood. Although VU35 intended on making the product entirely recyclable by utilizing second-hand planks, the delicate nature of the film required a more sturdy support base. Why it is Cool? Using a sensible and old material that is useless they built a piece of furnishing with an amazing and original design, that works perfectly visually. It’s a way of mixing old material with new one in a simple way turning it into a functional piece of furnishing. To cinema lovers it’s a curious way of having a personalised piece with material related to that art, and it’s also a fantastic experience. Associated Trend: Design = Wow + How + How Good. Related Trends: Clanning, Small Indulgences, Experience Economy, Meaningful Nostalgia, Eco-sustainability.
Buenos Aires
Stylish Sustainable Resort The Home Hotel in Buenos Aires is a pioneer in Eco Hospitality. In a country where environmentally friendly business is still a relatively unexplored concept, this hotel is a fantastic example of sustainable hospitality done right. With a committed focus on using energy-efficient lighting, passive design and recycling wherever possible, the Home Hotel manages a small carbon footprint even in the most unlikely of places. Even though the country has no recycling program, the hotel is working to reduce their waste with a local organization called El Ceibo. Lucky guests to visit the hotel will be greeted with an immaculately designed interior, gorgeous green gardens and big pools to lounge in. Why it is Cool? In a country that the environmentally friendly business is still a relatively unexplored concept there’s a hotel which its main concern is the environment. Taking advantage of its surroundings in an inteligent way the hotel wants to be as ecological as possible, like the design, the used energy-efficient lighting, the furniture, the reduction of waste, among others. Joining everything together offering their guests a pleasant and healthy atmosphere, and an unique experience. Associated Trends: Design = Wow + How + How Good, Eco-sustainability. Related Trends: Clanning, Small Indulgences, Experience Economy, Meaningful Nostalgia, Luxury, Pleasure Revenge, Relaxed and Spiritual.
Buenos Aires
Faena Hotel & Universe The Argentine fashion impresario Alan Faena and Philippe Starck joined forces in Buenos Aires to create the Faena Hotel & Universe. They found a former granary and created a “universe” of opulence and fantasy. The adventure begins on arrival, one is met by attendants dressed in Edwardian gear, who usher you into El Catedral, a long entrance/hallway, with a blood red carpet and stained glass. There are 2 restaurants, one a casual cafe, El Mercado, simple wood tables, paint peeling, mis-matched chairs, opulent mirrors, and chandeliers, old china of difference colors and prints and stainless steel fixtures. This room defines Starck’s aesthetic, old and new live together in harmony. Here one can have a delicious breakfast, or on Sundays, they do a great traditional Argentine asado, meat lovers paradise. El Bistro is the more serious restaurant, chef Mariano CID de la Paz serves his extraordinary food in a white dining room, with red accents. unicorns on the walls, gold gilded chairs, white velvet curtains and the focal point, a huge painting, Old Masters style of Indians at war. After dinner one can choose either the club, El Cabaret, where one can see the Rojo Tango Show, or local musicians like Charlie Garcia and Fito Paez might show up for impromptu jam sessions; or enjoy an aperitif in the Library Lounge, which houses over 500 works of literature, Chesterfield sofas, chairs covered in Fortuny fabric, Venetian blinds and more velvet curtains. There is also a La Prarie spa, and a beautiful Hamman, an out door pool area and bar, and a gym. Why it is Cool? This hotel may be pricey but it’s really more than a place to stay or eat, it’s a journey to another dimension, a fantastic fantasy, a beautiful ride. They converted this old place into a magical universe that is an authentic back to the past, where old mix perfectly in a harmonious way with the modern, where there’s no single detail missing. Associated Trends: Design = Wow + How + How Good, Luxury. Related Trends: Experience Economy, Pleasure Revenge, Meaningful Nostalgia, The Beautiful People, Clanning, Small Indulgences, Relaxed and Spiritual, Fantasy Adventure.
Buenos Aires
Unik
Confronted with a collection of '60s and '70s furniture that he'd amassed over three decades, Marcelo Joulia decided to open a restaurant. In the first floor of the building that houses the Buenos Aires arm of his international agency Naรงo Arquitectures, turning the space into equal parts gallery and living portfolio and giving it the name Unik. More than 35 designers (mostly European) are represented among the seating, furniture, lamps, decorative pieces, plates and silverware. Unik's gastronomical proposal with its focus on Argentinean food and wine. Its kitchen serves up hearty dishes like rib-eye steak with spinach and leg of lamb with quinoa. Besides banquettes, diners can choose to sit at a long bar that divides the open kitchen from the eating area and watch as the food is being made. A garden at one end has 50-year-old palm trees, adding a touch of nature to the surroundings. Diners who want to know more about the pieces they're sitting on or using can look through a book that shares the story and designer behind each one. Why it is Cool? Taking advantage of having a personal collection of 60s and 70s Marcelo Joulia opened a place that is a restaurant, a bar and where he shows his collection. The restaurant is traditional but very sophisticated and all this mixture of styles and so different pieces turns the place into a very creative and original atmosphere. Restore old pieces and introduce the work of several designers, including his work, with his living portfolio. Associated Trend: Design = Wow + How + How Good. Related Trends: Experience Economy, Pleasure Revenge, Meaningful Nostalgia,, Clanning, Small Indulgences.
Buenos Aires
Fair-Trade Market Made out of a Transit Depot Located within an old train warehouse that had fallen into disrepair, El Galpón is a remarkable co-op market that specializes in organic and fair-trade products. The remarkable space also serves as a haven for "permaculture workshops, ecodesign fairs, yoga classes, a barter, an organic vegetable patch and even a community online radio" all within one "friendly space." The El Galpón market in Buenos Aires is proof that even the most unlikely of venues can be turned into a sustainable business with a bit of creativity. Why it is Cool? In an abandoned old train warehouse arise a nice place dedicated to fair-trade market. It serves to introduce to people organic products and the fair-trade market, giving the chance and the encouragement to the community to be part of something healthy and offers a closer connection with the nature. Apart from the market this place also have another healthy options in which everyone can participate, including a trade area and an organic vegetable patch. This place it’s the example of how abandoned buildings can be an opportunity to interesting and very useful projects. Associated Trend: Eco-sustainability. Related Trends: Clanning, S.O.S. (Save Our Society), Bottom Of The Social Pyramid, C2C, Experience Economy, Crowd Everything, Design = Wow + How + How Good, Meaningful Nostalgia.
Buenos Aires
Open Forest Home The JD house by BAK Architects has an open concept with big wide windows for light to penetrate through. If you are a nature lover this house is for sure a choice for your next home. The house is located in the middle of Mar Azul forest in Buenos Aires. It has an open concept with big wide windows for light to penetrate through. On top of that, the whole house is mostly wood which makes for perfect eco-friendly living. Why it is Cool? The fantastic design and its location allow us to have a completely ecological house. It’s perfect for those who like to be in touch with the Nature where the house literally makes part of it, and for those who like to have a healthy and eco-friendly living. We can take pleasure in a peaceful and quiet environment on the inside and the outside it’s great for hiking and for other outdoor activities. It’s a perfect example of how with a simple design we can have a different, comfortable and at the same time a functional environment. This house match perfectly with its surroundings in a perfect and harmonious way. Associated Trends: Eco-sustainability, Design = Wow + How + How Good. Related Trends: Clanning, Cashing Out, Cocooning, Experience Economy, Fantasy Adventure, Pleasure Revenge, Small Indulgences, Relaxed and Spiritual, Meaningful Nostalgia, Secrecy.
Buenos Aires
Sportcoat Backpacks
The company Carro, based in Buenos Aires, has entered the design world with their first big project: sportcoat backpacks. The sportcoat backpacks are original but also familiar, because of the easily recognized material. The herringbone pattern is particularly awesome. Wearing a sportcoat backpack that matches your sportcoat would be utterly amazing. Why it is Cool? In a world where it seems that everything have already been done, testing new or uncommon fabrics can be an encouragement to creativity, the sparkle that makes the whole difference in fashion world or even to designers. Using a backpack that match with our coat is a detail with which we can make the difference and feel special and elegant. With different materials we can reinvent old products, giving them a new use and a completely different look. It’s an idea that can make the whole difference and how knows it can attract a target of the market that wasn’t expected. Associated Trend: Design = Wow + How + How Good. Related Trends: Clanning, Egonomics, Experience Economy, Meaningful Nostalgia, Identities Narrated.
Buenos Aires
Recycled rain boots
These rain boots are created from recycled plastic bags and they were created in conjunction with the “Waste For Life� collective based in Buenos Aires. By using an innovative new method, the Waste for Life studio has turned the plastic bags collected by the Cartoneros into rain boots. The boots are not only stylish, but extremely functional and eco-friendly. Cartoneros are poor trash collectors. The final material of the boots is a composite of low density polyethylene plastic bags and a single layer of cheescloth sandwiched in between. The cheescloth allows the plastic to be stitched and sewn, it also makes it more durable and flexible. Why it is Cool? Consumers are looking for eco-friendly options in every industry and the fashion world is no exception. Rather than providing consumers with products that can be found in a variety of places, businesses can ensure they will experience a wider demographic by creating designs that are both fashionable as well as environmentally friendly. At the same time that they recycle and also help carboneros, they create a sustainable, functional product with a very interesting design. Associated Trends: Design = Wow + How + How Good, Eco-Sustainability. Related Trends: Clanning, Egonomics, Experience Economy, S.O.S. (Save Our Society), Bottom Of The Social Pyramid, Love Thy City.
Buenos Aires
The Book That Can't Wait “The Book That Can't Wait” is a book published by Eterna Cadencia, an independent publisher based in Argentina, that is printed with disappearing ink! Using disappearing ink seems pretty crazy, especially because many people tend to wait to read some of their books - but that's exactly the point. For new authors, getting published is one thing, having people read the work is entirely another, and the longer they wait to read it, the longer the author has to wait to release a second book. The Book That Can't Wait helps with this problem because the ink that's used will disappear after two months once it comes into contact with sunlight and air, thus propelling readers to get reading. This project is an anthology of work by new Latin authors, and the project was created in conjunction with DRAFTFCB Buenos Aires. Why it is Cool? It’s an interesting project that encourage the readers to read the books at the moment that they buy them and not to postpone the reading for so long, or even not reading it entirely. The book has a short duration and it’s a way of value the work of the authors and to people to desire to know more about other books from the same author or from a different one. The project is completely innovative and new and is something that makes readers to get more interested about the book and to read it immediately. Associated Trends: Design = Wow + How + How Good, Eco-Sustainability. Related Trends: Clanning, Experience Economy, Bottom Of The Social Pyramid.
Buenos Aires
Childhood Pets The Irina Werning “Back to the Future” photo series documents the chronological growth of animals and their childhood owners. The portraits, some of which document time 20 year time spans, are heartfelt and reveal the longstanding love existent between pets and human beings, no matter the age. These spliced images pit pictures from 1995 with those of 2011, or 1996 with 2012. The significant gap in time allows the subjects to growth and change, though many of their characteristics remain the same. Why it is Cool? It’s an interesting, original, creative and curious way to see documented the chronological growth of animals and their childhood owners. They grow, get older but the friendship and the mutual love keeps unchanged, or gets even stronger. Pure feelings that are noticed and that we can feel it on the pictures. It’s an amazing memory from the past that bring back together with the present moment. Associated Trend: Identities Narrated. Related Trends: Visual culture, Meaningful Nostalgia, Clanning, Down-Aging.
Buenos Aires
Knockoff Masterpiece Marketing
The common goal of many manufacturers is to instill their products with a sound authenticity, and the approach taken by the Otro Mundo Art Series is really quite direct. Choosing to abandon the essence of what a drink truly is, the Woonky advertising agency of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has instead opted to equate the grade of this beer brand to the likes of artistic masters. Each of the three prints explores a different aesthetic, embracing the Pop Art Ben-Day Dots of Roy Lichtenstein, the mathematically precise sketching of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, and the Surrealist de Stijl technique of Joan Miro. Visual arts may have little do with the art of brewing alcohol, but it's clear that the Otro Mundo Art Series aims to communicate its supremacy. Why it is Cool? With the connection of a product like beer to art pieces worldwide renowned they pretended to transmit the idea of authenticity, quality, and the irreverence of the beer. Exploring a different world and a new way of promoting a product, having art as a starting point where beer is highlighted in a very original way. This example show us that there’s no limits regarding art and that everything can inspire us in order to get a good final product. Associated Trend: Design = Wow + How + How Good. Related Trends: Clanning, Experience Economy, Bottom Of The Social Pyramid.
Buenos Aires
Trendbook done by: Ana Isabel Figueira Buenos Aires