Raised in 1936 for Buenos Aires’ quadricentennial, the 67.5‑meter Obelisk by Alberto Prebisch anchors the crossing of Avenida 9 de Julio and Corrientes. A stark concrete‑clad needle in the Modernist idiom, it became a rallying point for celebrations and protest, an urban wayfinder, and a canvas for lighting campaigns—maintained through periodic concrete repair and waterproofing in a heavy‑traffic plaza.
The municipality commissioned architect Alberto Prebisch to create a commemorative landmark for the 400th anniversary of Buenos Aires’ first foundation. Sited at the symbolic junction of the city’s two great arteries, the Obelisk asserted a modern, secular identity—pared‑back geometry replacing figurative monuments.
The shaft is a reinforced‑concrete core faced with prefabricated concrete panels, rising to a small metal apex. Works advanced rapidly (just over two months) with crews assembling formwork and lifting panels by crane to meet the anniversary deadline. Inscriptions mark key episodes in the city’s history.
From football victories to political rallies, vigils, and New Year’s gatherings, the Obelisk serves as Buenos Aires’ de facto civic stage. Lighting schemes underline causes and holidays; at times temporary wraps or artistic interventions turn the minimal form into a communicative screen.
Traffic vibration, pollution, and weathering drove successive campaigns to seal joints, patch concrete spalls, and improve lightning protection. The surrounding Plaza de la República has seen redesigns to manage pedestrian safety, event crowding, and accessibility.
Most visitors admire the monument from the plaza or nearby terraces; night lighting and the sweep of Avenida 9 de Julio give the clearest sense of scale. Combine with a stroll along Corrientes—bookshops, theatres, and classic pizzerias frame the city’s cultural spine.
