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The City of Buenos Aires is no stranger to abandoned architectural marvels, but there are several that stand out as particular odd and unknown structures that are currently gathering dust in numerous corners of Argentina’s capital. From bygone infrastructure projects to examples of budgetary mismanagement, the City is littered with these relics, each of which are very telling of the time in which they were built and later set aside. With many of these being either astounding feats of engineering or of spending, a couple have started to be re-purposed, while there may be lofty plans for others in the future. Here we compile a few that we see as some of the most audacious or notable examples of this phenomenon. Needless to say, this list is far from complete.

Once-Puerto Madero tunnel

Photo: Cronica Ferroviaria

Forget about the government’s plans to bring rail lines to the City center using tunnels — we’ve had that since 1916. Those exploring Puerto Madero may have noticed an abandoned train station there (aside from the abandoned tram stations), but where the trains would have come from isn’t immediately obvious. As recently as 10 years ago, some of the Sarmiento Line passenger trains would bypass the Once terminal and enter a 5km long, 22m deep tunnel — originally used to take freight from Western Argentina to the port — which left them right in the heart of the City’s financial district.

The services stopped some time ago and today the tunnel is very occasionally used to move trains to other parts of the network, though it is unclear whether this 100 year-old tunnel will be re-purposed for the upcoming Red de Expresos Regionales project, which also aims to bring the line to Puerto Madero. It is rather fitting that what was originally the country’s first railway line, and later Latin America’s first electrified railway line, remained ahead of its time.

Harrods Buenos Aires

Photo: Public Domain

Among the collection of some of Buenos Aires’ best and worst architecture on Florida Street, it’s easy to miss the abandoned husk of what was once Harrods, which remains the only full-sized department store bearing the name to have opened outside the UK capital. Originally opened in 1914, it was a grandiose statement to just how important and wealthy Buenos Aires was at the time.

Harrods Buenos Aires remained highly successful, outliving the equally prestigious Gath and Chaves department store, but following legal conflicts with Harrods then-new owner Mohammed Al-Fayed in the late 1980s, the store finally closed its doors in the late 1990s. Today it remains abandoned, with its interior decaying and occasional plans to restore and reactivate the store disappearing as quickly as they materialized.

The White Elephant

Photo: Brando

Argentina’s drastically changing politics has resulted in a number of white elephants, though only one is considered prolific enough to bare the name. Located in Buenos Aires’ far South-West neighbourhood of Villa Lugano, the massive building was originally destined to be Latin America’s largest hospital. Construction began in the 1920s, with political transitions resulting in its construction being halted. Juan Perón got painfully close to finishing the building, which was due to open in 1956, just one year after he was deposed. The building has remained in a state of decay since then, with some parts inhabited and used by the residents of the surrounding Ciudad Oculta shantytown. The White Elephant has also inspired a 2012 film of the same name starring Ricardo Darín. The City of Buenos Aires government is now analyzing plans to move one of its ministries to the huge building.

Subte Ghost Stations

Photo: Public Domain

It seems unsurprising that a network that has been around as long as the Buenos Aires Underground will have a few abandoned stations. The Subte has four such ghost stations, with two on Line A and two on Line E.

Those having taken Line A may have noticed that two of the stations (Pasco and Alberti) only have one platform each. The reason behind this is that their other platforms were in fact separate stations closed in the 1950s given that the close proximity between the two current stations made them redundant. However, since these other halves of the existing stations are on an active part of the line, their dark and abandoned platforms can still be seen from inside the trains as they pass by. As a result, the ghost stations have inspired a number of urban legends and ghost stories.

The history of Line E is a tad more complicated, given that the line originally ended at Constitución Railway Station instead of Plaza de Mayo. Due to the line traversing less densely populated areas than the other lines, it has historically struggled to carry the same number of passengers. Changing its route to the center of the city was seen as the solution to this and the old part of the line was closed in 1966 along with two stations — San Jose Vieja and Constitución. There is still some hope for the stations, as they coincide with the first segment of the elusive Line F and may be reused when the line is built.

Parque de la Ciudad

Photo: La Nacion

The opening of a huge amusement park in the City’s southern end in 1982 was one of the last dying gasps of the dictatorship. The 79-hectare park did well to survive up until 2008, considering the economic crises it lived through and the expense that it must have meant to the City’s coffers. Under Macri’s mayorship, the City government decided it had enough and decided to close the park and re-purpose some of its areas. Among the many rides, it featured five very expensive roller coasters, some of which are yet to be dismantled by the City. While much of the park remains abandoned, its iconic space needle was recently reopened and parts of the grounds will be reused for the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, while others have been sold off to build housing.