Designed by Clorinda Testa; completed 1966 The Bank of London and South America, located on a congested corner of Bartolomé Mitre in Buenos Aires, is one of the most significant buildings in Argentina and a landmark achievement in concrete construction. Designed by Clorindo Testa in association with SEPRA architects, the introverted building presents a robust concrete facade that belies a seductive and subdued labyrinthine interior. Set within a context of formal neoclassical architecture from the 19th century, the cleverly orchestrated design mediates between the busy and crowded Argentinian streets and the methodical operation of the bank headquarters. It compliments the urban fabric in a manner that is both charismatic and controlled. The building was constructed at a time of tremendous economic turbulence in Argentina, resulting from political changes internally and the rampant tension across Latin America that had culminated in the Cuban revolution of 1959. The election of Arturo ...