Architecture and modernization in the capital of a province: Santa Fe Government House as a symbol of a modern State

Abstract

In the context of accelerated economic progress, new urban transformations and a social climate of optimism, the execution of a series of architectural public works in the city of Santa Fe helped to materialize an idea of modernity that was largely driven by the Provincial State to respond to its need for appropriate representative spaces in the early years of the 20th century.

The article analyzes the project for the Government House of the Province of Santa Fe, understanding it as an eloquent testimony of particular conceptions about the role of the State, the drive for representation of the ruling elite, the positioning of the intellectuals regarding the past, the cultural model that was referenced, the evaluation criteria of the different areas of the city, the strategies of technical offices, among other issues. Along the same lines, other contemporary proposals of the Argentinean architectural culture are presented, as well as manifestations of professionals and current academic models, understanding that this disciplinary field played a key role in Modern State modernization process.