On the shady streets of Barrio Norte, crossing its cobblestone arteries, I heard the taxi radio announced a trip to the street Ugarteche and Hair. I confirmed, and within five minutes I reached the scene: it was the famous Palacio de Los Patos.


I announced in the security sector of the building and within minutes left Maria Theresa, a very elegant lady. After the usual greetings and directions to destination, I asked: "Since you live here, would I be able to tell the true story of the Palacio de Los Patos?". Mrs. elaborated briefly on the most relevant aspects of the property and its history.

When we reached our destination, with Maria Teresa we exchanged phone numbers. He said he went through the building's management, as it was one of the owners and administrators, and inform me about the history of the palace. He also told me that was shortly before the 80th anniversary of the inauguration of the building.

After several months and when I least expected I received an invitation to attend the Maria Teresa Palacio, because there would be a special reception to mark 80 years on 10 December last.

That day I was greeted by Ms. Maria Teresa and Silvia, who allowed me to go and see the major sites of the building with its exquisite and lavish courtyards, plus visit the exhibitions of important artists who exhibited there.

And I learned the full story of this emblematic building of Buenos Aires that will make a brief review.

El Palacio de Los Patos originated in Paris, according to the commentary to make Mr. Manuel Chopitea, son of Don Alfredo Chopitea, original owner of the monumental building. Don Alfredo routinely traveled to Europe with his family. In one of those tours became fascinated with a building he saw in the City of Light and concocted the idea of building a similar one in Buenos Aires. So located and hired the French architect who had built to achieve his dream. It was Henri Azière that on field data available Buenos Aires, drew up the plans for the new building.

But Don Alfredo felt could better use the spaces. Then hired the architect Julio Senillosa and amended the original draft. They reached the 144 and functional units, which combined the original design Azière, Chopitea interest and the valuable contribution of Senillosa.

The name Palacio de Los Patos is quite controversial. There are no hard data, but tell you what I could get basing on the book History of the Palacio de Los Patos, the writer Jorge Ercasi.

Tradition says that the first tenants were families of birth and thin wallets. Legend has it that in this building they found the ideal place to conceal their hardship and pretend that everything was the same. In the Buenos Aires slang, the word "duck" says the person who lacks money. Is that the plumage of ducks, even when in the water, always "dry".


Another version says that the area was a sort of stream, which is now piped and flows into the Rio de la Plata, known as Arroyo Ugarteche, where ducks lived.

However, whatever the origin with the acid humor christened Buenos Aires, we can ensure that the name now so incorporated into the civic culture manifests an intimate desire of many people who wish they could live in it.

Since 1959 the building was managed by the owners, having been the first engineer Leslie Lomax. Currently, the ladies do and Maria Teresa Silvia Moras Jaunarena. Note also that important people have occupied some of the 144 units.

With this brief overview of this emblematic place in our city, we walk away having learned something more than what is very remarkable that the cultural patrimony.