Last year’s CASA FOA was set at the old Tornquist Bank; a 1926 Neoclassical National Monument right in right Buenos Aires’ city center.
Architect Julio Oropel’s Wine Bar Trapiche welcomed visitors with an intimate dark cafeteria decorated with growing mushrooms and MDF and melamine furniture that has antimicrobial certification.
Looking out from the Wine Bar, José Luis Zacarías Otiñano’s Pensalis Pop… Jardín Aéreo exposed geometrical sculptures from mimbre with bright fishing buoys among 800 baby palm trees.
Within CASA FOA’s 43,000 square feet decorated area, a space by Grupo 7 was created from repurposed pallets and lighted by rows of LED lights.
Architects Zunino+ Grillo’s delicious bakery space La Boulangerie featured old bread tools, plenty of natural materials and a gorgeous standard copper pipe exhibitor incorporating the old bank’s safety box on their design.
The landscaping Gold Medal was for Matilde Oyharzabal and Florencia Valloud who created a clever Terraza Verde en Realidad Virtual (Virtual Reality Green Terrace) using a whole-wall mirror to create a sense of more space.
Cristina Le Mehauté created outdoor furniture from shopping trolleys for her Consumo Cuidado (Responsible Consumption) balcony area.
Industrial designers Patricio Barry and Cristian Izuneta’s curvy Banco Rubén bench was designed for public spaces, and constructed from a steel structure and a strong metal curtain.
WepLight unveiled a gorgeous collection of flat-pack hanging lights made from flexible wood veneer that gives off a soft warm shine.
The sweet wooden toys and mobiles by Fabrikken were also on show at last year’s CASA FOA, combining a clean Nordic aesthetic with local icons like Tango and the fantastic Buenos Aires Planetarium.
Architects Francisco Marconi and Guadalupe Diez created a luxurious bathroom space featuring a unique chandelier constructed from natural handcrafted felt.
Eco-designer Agustin Albarracin creates wonders from local fast growing Tacuara cane, including this undulating Banco Verde II (Green Bench) for people to share and perch upon.
And last but not least was a delightful feminine space by Ernestina Anchorena and Carola Pirovano, which was decorated as a blooming winter garden for enjoying nature and reading poems.
+ CASA FOA
Photos by Ana Lisa Alperovich for Inhabitat