Description
Obelisk of Buenos Aires – Coronados de Gloria Collection
Buenos Aires, Argentina (1936)
Architect: Alberto Prebisch
Type: Monument
The Obelisk is more than a monument. It is the place where Buenos Aires comes together to celebrate, to feel, and to write some of the most memorable chapters of its history.
Coronados de Gloria was created as a special edition inspired by that spirit. This collection pays tribute to the symbol that brings millions of Argentinians together in every celebration, transforming an urban icon into a design piece that preserves those emotions over time.
Crafted in gold PLA, this model combines architectural precision with an elegant finish, making it a perfect addition to desks, bookshelves, and spaces where architecture and design are appreciated.
Dimensions
- Width: 3.5 cm
- Height: 20 cm
- Depth: 3.5 cm
- Weight: 35 g
(Available in other colors and sizes upon request.)
History
To understand the concept of the obelisk, we must go back to Ancient Egypt. The obelisk was a monument associated with the worship of the sun god Ra, embodying profound historical, religious, and cultural significance. Symbolically, it represented the sun's rays descending from its pinnacle, reflecting one of the central beliefs of Egyptian civilization: the life-giving power of the sun.
The word "obelisk" comes from the Greek obelískos, a diminutive of obelós, meaning "pointed pillar" or "spit." The ancient Egyptians called them tejen. Traditionally, obelisks are monolithic structures carved from a single block of stone, with four sides that taper gently toward a pyramid-shaped top.
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires was inaugurated on May 23, 1936, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first foundation of Buenos Aires. It stands on the very site where the Argentine flag was raised for the first time in the city.
Designed by architect Alberto Prebisch, one of the leading figures of Argentine Modernism and also the architect of the nearby Gran Rex Theatre, the monument was conceived both as a commemorative landmark and as a powerful visual focal point at the intersection of the city's major avenues.
Its construction took place during a defining moment in Buenos Aires' architectural development, alongside the rise of the city's first generation of skyscrapers—including the Comega Building, Safico Building, and the iconic Kavanagh Building. Together, these works marked the height of the Modern Movement in Buenos Aires, establishing the Obelisk as one of the city's most enduring architectural symbols.
