Confitería del Molino
{{Infobox building
| name = Confitería del Molino
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alternate_names = El Molino
| logo = Edificio del molino logo.png
| logo_size = 60
| image = Confitería_del_Molino_in_2022.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = El Molino after its restoration in 2022
| map_type =
| map_caption = Location in Buenos Aires
| coordinates = {{coord|34|36|32|S|58|23|32|W|display=inline,title}}
| address = Av. Rivadavia 1815
| location_town = Buenos Aires
| location_country = Argentina
| owner = Argentine National Congress
| current_tenants =
| architect = Francesco Gianotti
| client =
| engineer =
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date = 1912
| inauguration_date = {{start date and age|1916}}
| completion_date =
| demolition_date =
| height =
| diameter =
| other_dimensions =
| main_contractor = GEOPÉ
| cost =
| structural_system =
| style = Art Nouveau
| floor_count = 6
| floor_area = {{convert|5450|m2|abbr=on}}
| elevator_count =
| grounds_area =
| website = {{url|https://delmolino.gob.ar/|delmolino.gob.ar}}
| embedded = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=Argentina}}
| references =
}}
The Confitería del Molino ({{langx|es|The Mill}}) is an historical Art Nouveau style confitería (coffeehouse) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, located in front of the Palace of the National Congress and the Congressional Plaza, on the intersection of Callao and Rivadavia avenues in the barrio of Balvanera.
It first opened on 9 July 1916 and closed in 1997, the year when it was declared a National Historic Monument by the Argentine Congress. In recent years it has become dilapidated and derelict. In 2014, a law passed by Congress expropriated the coffeehouse and mandated its restoration; restoration efforts began in 2016 and are, as of 2022, nearing completion {{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=Confitería del Molino reopens after years of abandonment and restoration |url=https://www.archpaper.com/2022/07/buenos-aires-confiteria-del-molino-reopens-abandonment-restoration/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=The Architect’s Newspaper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Yosovitch |first=Fernando |title=Vuelven las visitas a la Confitería Del Molino: la increíble historia y cómo quedó por dentro |url=https://www.cronista.com/clase/break/la-mitica-confiteria-del-molino-reanuda-sus-visitas-como-es-su-historia-para-conocerla-por-dentro/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.cronista.com |language=es}}
History
Cayetano Brenna, a famous confectioner, commissioned Italian architect Francisco Gianotti in 1915 to design the building that would house a café on its ground floor. The café itself opened on July 9, 1916, and when completed in 1917 the building became one of the tallest in the city with a corner turret rising {{convert|65|m|ft}}. Illuminated from the inside with electric lighting, the turret featured stained glass windows and decorative windmill sails. El Molino and Galería Güemes were two of Gianotti's greatest works and represent important examples of Art Nouveau style architecture in Buenos Aires.
File:Confitería del Molino.jpg
Cayetano Brenna died in 1938 and Renato Varesse took over the business until 1950, when Antonio Armentano appeared, who in turn sold the goodwill in 1978. The new owners cause the bankruptcy of the confectionery, which happens to be acquired by Brenna's grandchildren, who introduce a series of improvements to adapt it to the new times.{{cite web|url=http://www.delmolino.gob.ar/edificio/hitos.html|title=HITOS|work=Edificio del Molino|date=n.d.}}
Over the years El Molino became a favourite meeting place for local cultural, business, and political figures. The café was closed on 23 February 1997 and, neglected by its owners and abandoned in general, it slowly deteriorated until it was evident considerable restoration efforts were needed to salvage the building.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/hace-anos-cerraba-puertas-confiteria-molino_0_HJj-IgIgAYx.html|work=Clarín|title=Hace cinco años cerraba sus puertas la Confitería del Molino|date=24 January 2002|access-date=15 December 2020|language=es}}
The Confitería del Molino was declared a National Historic Monument in 1997. Congress approved its purchase by the Argentine Government in a bill passed unanimously on November 12, 2014. Plans include the restoration of the building and reopening of the namesake café, as well as the creation of a museum of early 20th century life in Buenos Aires.{{cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1745315-nueva-vida-para-el-molino|title=Nueva vida para El Molino|work=La Nación|date=November 20, 2014}} Officially, the building will be an annex of the Argentine Congress serving numerous functions and administered through a bicameral commission (the Special Bicameral Administrative Commission on the "Edificio del Molino"; Law 27.009), though the coffee shop itself is to be operated by the private sector.{{cite web|url=http://prensa.argentina.ar/2015/09/29/60943-avanza-la-expropiacion-de-la-confiteria-el-molino.php|title=Avanza la expropiación de la Confitería El Molino|date=29 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001034150/http://prensa.argentina.ar/2015/09/29/60943-avanza-la-expropiacion-de-la-confiteria-el-molino.php|archive-date=1 October 2015|work=Presidency of the Nation|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.senado.gob.ar/parlamentario/comisiones/info/380|work=Senate of the Argentine Nation|title=COMISIÓN BICAMERAL ESPECIAL ADMINISTRADORA DEL "EDIFICIO DEL MOLINO" (LEY 27.009)|access-date=15 December 2020|language=es}}
Illustrious visitors
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
- Alfredo Palacios
- Tito Schipa
- Beniamino Gigli
- Lily Pons
- Leopoldo Lugones
- Amado Nervo
- José Ingenieros
- Oliverio Girondo
- Roberto Arlt
- Ramón Gómez de la Serna
- Lisandro de la Torre
- Eva Perón
- Niní Marshall
- Libertad Lamarque
- Madonna
- Carlos Gardel
- Adolfo Bioy Casares
- Isser Harel
- Rafi Eitan
}}
In popular culture
- In 1996, American entertainer Madonna recorded the videoclip of her cover of Love Don't Live Here Anymore in the main hall of the coffeehouse.{{cite news|url=https://www.tv80s.com/madonna/madonna-love-dont-live-here-anymore/|title=Madonna – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore|access-date=15 December 2020|work=TV80s}}
- The 1996 movie Autumn Sun, has scenes filmed in the place.
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Gallery
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53485913632.jpg|Events hall
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53485914482.jpg|Events hall
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53487233835.jpg|Restaurant
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53487233805.jpg|Restaurant
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53487233960.jpg|Restaurant
Visita a la Confitería del Molino 7657.jpg|Uniforms exhibited
Visita a la Confitería del Molino.jpg|Preserved machines
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53487233260.jpg|Music hall
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53487233300.jpg|Interior steps
Visita a la Confitería del Molino - 53485913532.jpg|Rivadavia Avenue façade
Confitería el Molino - 454 -.JPG|Tower
Vieja Confitería el Molino.JPG|The building at night
Confiteria del molino escalinata 1920s.jpg|Interiors and steps (1920s)
Bibliography
- Mimi Böhm, Buenos Aires, Art Nouveau, Ediciones Xavier Verstraeten, Buenos Aires, 2005.
- Monumentos Históricos Nacionales y Bienes Declarados de la República Argentina, Comisión Nacional de Museos y de Monumentos y Lugares Históricos de la República Argentina, Edición 2008.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons cat}}
- {{Official website}}
{{National Historic Monuments of Argentina}}
{{Buenos Aires landmarks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Confiteria El Molino}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Buenos Aires
Category:National Historic Monuments of Argentina
Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in Argentina
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1917
Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Buenos Aires