Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires

Nowadays, the role of architects exceeds the limits of construction, reaching fields that are often unthinkable, but which nonetheless demonstrate a close relationship with the profession. If we go back in time, the fact is that many buildings, houses, monuments and even cities have been built intuitively without urban planning or renowned architects. Undoubtedly, today's architects are facing a great challenge that goes beyond demonstrating our skills and knowledge and extends to other areas that involve us, but we still don't know it. So we ask ourselves, what will be the profile of the architect of the future?

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 6 of 19
via Campanópolis

The medieval village called Campanópolis is located about 30 km from the city of Buenos Aires, in González Catán, Matanza. It is presented as an example of architecture without architects and without inhabited buildings since, in fact, its constructions seem to have a more sculptural character, but with an architectural form. It is the first city with a medieval spirit in Latin America, constituting a historical, ecological, cultural and thematic park.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 3 of 19
via Campanópolis
Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 2 of 19
via Campanópolis

Antonio Campana, a supermarket businessman and producer of canned food, bought the 200 hectares of that rural area with plains, jungle-like forests, rivers, streams and lakes in 1977 to build a weekend house and an agricultural business. In 1985, after getting the dictatorship to return the land that had been expropriated by the CEAMSE (Ecological Coordination of the Metropolitan Area of ​​the State Society) he was diagnosed with cancer and it was then that he decided to start building this very special village on land that for years had been a dumping ground.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 7 of 19
Imagen de Mariano Gaspar. Image © Shutterstock
Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 8 of 19
via Campanópolis

Together with a group of masons that he put together with the neighbours of the area, Antonio designs and builds, without any architectural knowledge, a village with a mixture of styles in the middle of the woods that he himself planted, and breaks the moulds of construction, building the new on the basis of the old.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 9 of 19
via Campanópolis

A complex where medieval-style constructions, curved passages with cobblestones and railway sleepers as if they had come out of a 15th-century European village, fairy tale houses, a Dutch windmill, a locomotive with wagons and a colonial chapel, etc., coexist. One of its most interesting sites is the Museum of Bars, where different types of wrought iron railings, hanging chandeliers, stained glass, antique objects and also pieces of art are exhibited.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 16 of 19
via Campanópolis

The preservation of nature was one of the most important aspects taken into account when building it, as it is located in one of the largest nature reserves in the province of Buenos Aires, with more than 100,000 different trees and plant species. Campanópolis was built by recycling and reusing materials from demolitions.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 11 of 19
via Campanópolis
Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 15 of 19
via Campanópolis

Objects of great historical value were preserved, such as the bleachers discarded for the reconstruction of the Argentinos Juniors stadium, elements from the demolitions of the extension of 9 de Julio Avenue or 19th-century materials from the refurbishment of the Palermo Hippodrome and the Galerías Pacifico. At the same time, objects such as tiles on the walls, blind doors, gates that do not separate or divide spaces, stairs to nothingness itself, mezzanine floors made of gates, tiles placed in reverse, among others, were re-purposed.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 13 of 19
via Campanópolis

But why was this village never inhabited? Perhaps the intervention of architects or town planners would have achieved the creation of habitable spaces with notions of comfort and harmony, or who knows, perhaps not, because it simply had not been designed for those purposes. What is certain is that recognising the most suitable place to place a window, a door or a piece of furniture, knowing the best orientation and/or ventilation for a home or learning how to size and distribute spaces, are necessary qualities when designing the spaces we inhabit.

Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 17 of 19
via Campanópolis
Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires - Image 19 of 19
Imagen de Aline Viana. Image © Shutterstock

Self-constructive methods and alternative production methods produce marvellous results, but on other occasions, they end up creating fantasy architecture that tends to invite more visitors than inhabitants. However, at the end of the day, it is still architecture leaving a legacy that exhibits the traces of a past, worthy of admiration, with many teachings and lessons to be learned.

Source:
- Christopher Alexander, El modo atemporal de construir.
- Myrna Leal, Campanópolis: La aldea que no necesitó de arquitectos. 

Image gallery

See allShow less
About this author
Cite: Iñiguez, Agustina. "Architecture without Architects? Campanópolis, the Small Medieval Village Born from Recycling in Buenos Aires" [¿Arquitectura sin arquitectos? Campanópolis, la pequeña aldea medieval que nació del reciclado en Buenos Aires] 08 Mar 2022. ArchDaily. (Trans. Pérez Bravo, Amelia) Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/977883/architecture-without-architects-campanopolis-the-small-medieval-village-born-from-recycling-in-buenos-aires> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.