Any person connected with or interested in the design known for years to the maps of Buenos Aires as an indispensable tool for new stores, places and proposals for the city.
The discoveries, the clarity of the information, photographs and even drawings and colors of the home (renewed each season) have given to these maps a unique personality and true throughout its years of existence.
Some time ago I wondered who was behind this publication, and that its architect, Mercedes HERNAEZ, represents everything the maps. Habitué Palermo since the late'90s, when designers and artists chose the area because it was cheap and the district still had not adopted the name of 'Soho', began with the maps as a way to guide visitors in this area in which everything happened "behind closed doors."
As the supply grew and the neighborhood evolved, so did the maps and areas of interest they cover. Today includes three variants (clothing, equipment & gastronomy) and began to include surrounding areas and as Chacarita College, where new proposals are emerging.
Of these issues and a project that became HERNAEZ company spoke in this interview with BA Culturemix, showing great knowledge of the facts and vision to find the spots where things are happening in the city.
BA Culturemix (BACM): - How did the idea of maps of Buenos Aires?
Mercedes HERNAEZ (MH): I have a graphic design studio ten years ago, and were working for many of the designers of the first quarter (Net, Laura O., Mishka, La Pasionaria). After a long walk, talk, eat, and look in the neighborhood, we wanted to count what was happening here, which was different from what was happening in the rest of the city.
Palermo at the time was a neighborhood green, quiet and cheap, leading to settle the first broods of designers trained at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), eager to experiment. There were professionals, studies, good energy from people who wanted to give the best of it, pioneered a way of doing things with commitment, acting differently to the crisis of values that he had. He was not as an energy trading or melancholy, bolder.
But much was inside, and Palermo is a very large neighborhood, not everything was on a main street. So we had to do a guide to discover what was so not in sight. And went on to guide map.
The idea was to the city in another way, discover a different Buenos Aires, with selected information and classified in a capricious but it might care. I think that somehow the Maps ... unite an identity, the idea of how different specificities and identities can be strengthened and help one another. The idea of people who were in the neighborhood was not putting a business to bill.
There was an energy that has changed now, so we are currently looking at the edges, away from the center of Palermo, which was expensive and commercially. What is new is moving into places where it becomes to breathe air in the neighborhood: Chacarita, Colegiales, the Botanical.
BACM: - How the project went from idea to 'commercial' or 'business'?
MH: "We still do not know how I went from designer to independent businesswoman, but since we do our son is spoiled. In addition to the maps ... we have a production company called Monkey with which we make a series of books, cookbooks and blocks with remnants of vintage wallpapers. As part of this project are currently developing a line of notebooks for the Brazilian designer Isabela Capetian and textiles (banners, and cartridge pouches).
BACM: - Who is behind the project in production and design of the maps?
MH: I'm in charge of editing and design. Paula, a student of graphic design, is the coordinator of everything. Manuela and Josefina, students of photography, are on the side of scouting and connection to the outside world. And there is a team photo that changes in different editions, but it always is composed of young photographers and modern, adding a look interesting.
The latest edition of Manuela photographed Beretta (equipment), Sofia Berhaka (clothing) and Clara Muschietti and Ramon (cuisine). Before they had been Lucila Heinberg, Gustavo Schiaffino, Guadalupe Gaona, and Gisela Filk Carolina Santillan, among others. The characters of the covers of maps with the design Janine Smirnoff. And these days we are going up the Web with the help of Vero Sabelli of Sala2.
BACM: - Maps ... How many there are and what movement have?
MH: It started as one-but then break down into three to make it more clear: The equipment and lodging, clothing, and cook. Printed 100 thousand copies each, set over the course of six months. We went out in April and October, following the seasonal changes in clothing, and letters or seasonal menus in restaurants.
BACM: - Maps of Buenos Aires came close to the period of crisis in Argentina, how they saw change to the city since then?
MH: "The project originated in the late'90s and early'00, but became mature after the crisis. I think now the exchange of tourists and travelers coming to Buenos Aires gives the city a fresh super interesting.
They come to stroll, look, work, eat, inspiration and mingle. They are scouters, film people, or working in studios and magazines, and fall in love with the vibrancy of Buenos Aires. They also appear to buyers who are looking for new stores here, far from downtown, and I think that we come to look for our ideas and creativity, and you have your way in their places of origin, enriches us.
I feel that this process is like to travel: the look and search for what foreigners own help create an international projection of what one does.
BACM: - What do you think there have been developments in terms of quantity and quality of design proposals in the city?
MH: I think that is amazing what happens in Buenos Aires. I'm traveling, and every time I come back and see the city with fresh eyes, I like most: I think we have everything we need to do. UBA is a hotbed generator eyes and head, and the CMD worked very well at a time, generating policies for the development of which began recently.
BACM: - live in Buenos Aires?, What is your corner / shop / restaurant favorite?
MH: A little-who live in Olivos, but working in Palermo and I'm happy coming and going. In restaurants and places to eat I like Oui Oui (one pass through there is the best reward for a day of work), Marfa (their soups in the studio when we can not go out to eat is a glory), The Preferred Palermo (one of my favorites for ten years), Social Paraiso, Zadvarie, Sudestada (noon), The Bride, Masamadre, Sarkis (the empanadas and the Armenian Kepper crude) and Bar 6 (Friday at the end of the day). Now we discovered a delicious vegetarian restaurant in Uriarte and El Salvador: Prana.
As for shopping, I like to go through La Boutique Book Found Objects and soup au-Prince. Also by Pesqueira, Joan of Arc, Kukla, Net, Estebecorena Brothers, Lupe and Muchatela. And the local Felix and Castillo are my greatest admiration.
Finally, I love Green Palermo: are my favorites.
Maps of Buenos Aires are available in clothing stores and hotels mainly in Palermo and in the stands of Postal Way.
Latest issue of maps of Buenos Aires.
