PALACIO CABRERA

The genesis of this series is a tale both unique and poignant, intimately tied to my career as a commercial photographer spanning nearly three decades. As a specialist in interior design and architectural photography, I received a commission from Brody-Friedman, an important real estate developer in Buenos Aires, to capture images of a derelict building prior to its imminent restoration. The objective was to create a book that would showcase the transformation from its dilapidated state to its new-found splendour. This building, affectionately referred to as "Hogar José Devoto", stood in the heart of the traditional Palermo neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. It was founded as a home for single mothers who were assisted by a religious congregation before it was later converted into a residence for the elderly, only to be ultimately abandoned.

The experience of photographing this empty shell of a building, where one could still sense the echoes of past lives, was a surreal and profound one. Each room held a unique story, and I was left alone with my thoughts, spending several days exploring the depths of the edifice and capturing its essence with my lens. The result is a collection of haunting and evocative images that speak to the inherent beauty of decay and the passing of time. The exquisite book, edited by Silvina Simondet, and featuring poignant texts by Daniela Gutierrez, was published by Brody-Friedman in 2016 under the title "Palacio Cabrera".

Each image is a direct shot, a testament to the authenticity of my experience within the space. I photographed what I found, as I found it, allowing the true beauty of the abandoned building to speak for itself.