The "Ethnicity" of Architecture: Jewish Elites, Immigrant Bourgeoisie, and the Building of the Jewish Neighborhood of Buenos Aires, 1900–30

Like no other area of Buenos Aires, the Jewish neighbourhood “Once” (officially called “Balvanera”) became one of the first and main territories where businessmen, petty industrialists, and other entrepreneurs with immigrant origins, mainly Italian, Spanish and Jewish, began to reinvest their surplus in the construction of rental apartment buildings (“edificios de renta”). This practice was not only seen as an economic opportunity but also as a symbol of status.    
    Whether in terms of choosing an appropriate architectural language, hiring architects, or framing their conceptions of living space, these immigrant groups shared a common ground of ideas about the city. This paper focuses on the particular architectural behavior of the Jewish elites in one of the most emblematic Jewish areas of Buenos Aires: Once. This illustrates the complex interplay between surplus reinvestment, and the tensions between ethnic identity, class assimilation, and social status.