Casa sobre el Arroyo in Argentina wins the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize 2024

When it was first built in the 1940s, the sleek modernist design of the Casa sobre el Arroyo (or the House on the Stream) in Mar del Plata, Argentina, garnered praise from leading architects around the world. But after decades of abandonment, what had once been a beacon of modernism in Latin America was at risk of being lost completely. Now, thanks to the hard work of the Ministerios de Cultura y de Obras Públicas de Argentina and Municipalidad de Mar del Plata, this icon of twentieth-century Latin American design has been brought back to life once more. It was for their thoughtful and detailed restoration work that these bodies were awarded the 2024 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize.

WMF’s commitment to cultural conservation and Knoll’s ethos in using modern sustainable design to connect people in meaningful ways inspired the creation of this award, which honors architects, designers, and conservators who have demonstrated innovative solutions to preserve or restore modern architecture at risk.

The Casa sobre el Arroyo is the first Latin American modernist project to be awarded this prestigious prize. Its importance has made it a symbol of pride for Argentina, and its conservation reestablishes its role as an integral part of Latin American heritage.

The former home of famed musician and composer Alberto Williams, the Casa sobre el Arroyo has been heralded as an icon of modern architecture that pushed the boundaries of the avant-garde. Conceptualized in 1943 by Alberto's son, Amancio Williams, and Delfina Gálvez Bunge de Williams, Amancio's wife, the playful design transforms a house into a bridge over the Las Chacras stream. The structure, finished in 1948, includes a series of bedrooms, a large living room, service areas and a study specially designed for Alberto to work in. The house quickly became the object of praise and recognition by academics and designers worldwide, who considered it a paradigmatic component of twentieth-century architecture and the modern movement in Argentina and Latin America.

After Alberto Williams’s death, the house was used as a local radio station, and after its closure, property disputes eventually led to the site’s abandonment. Subsequent vandalism and a damaging fire in 2004 destroyed half of the carpentry, siding, and hardwood floors. Natural deterioration of materials and various environmental challenges, including falling leaves, branches, and even entire trees, would continue to cause structural damage.

The Municipality of Mar del Plata assumed custodianship of the site in 2005, but the house was left in precarious condition. In 2012, the Casa sobre el Arroyo was included in the World Monuments Watch due to the structure’s continued degradation amid calls for refurbishment by Mar del Plata residents, Argentine citizens, and architectural specialists. After launching the planning phase in 2016, the Ministerios de Cultura y de Obras Públicas de Argentina and Municipalidad de Mar del Plata completely restored the building, repairing the original components and recreating the missing ones, based on archival sketches and using materials, technology, and methodologies in accordance with the original construction. The surrounding park received the same treatment and was designated a historic garden. Crucially, years after it had run dry, the stream from which the house takes its name was replenished, bringing new life to the natural environment.

The honorees for the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize and the team responsible for the restoration project of la Casa sobre el Arroyo include Lic. Teresa de Anchorena, Arq. Fabio Grementieri, Lic. Magalí Marazzo, Arq. José Ferrero, Arq. Guillermo Frontera, Arq. Fermín Labaqui, Ing. Carlos Ramírez, and Arq. Mariana Quiroga.

This award recognizes the efforts of activists and conservation professionals in Argentina and Latin America to continue protecting their cultural heritage by providing new social uses for these emblematic spaces.