For the Larivière Foundation of Latin American Photography, which houses the historical collection of photographs and photography books by Jean Louis Larivière, Machado Silvetti renovated an existing set of buildings into a new headquarters, accommodating the idiosyncratic programming, mission, and operations of the foundation. 

The main space’s facade draws on the building traditions of the surrounding La Boca neighborhood, where most structures are sided with corrugated metal sheets. Perforated and corrugated high-performance metal siding spans the entire surface, including the sliding screens over the windows and doors.  

Inside, the foundation’s programmatic elements unfurl around the collection vault, a state-of-the-art conservation storage space of reinforced concrete and the building’s only new structural element. On the entrance level, a small lobby and bookstore invite visitors in, while on the second floor, a multipurpose room faces the street, and a reference library overlooks the expansive exhibition area. A continuous roof spans over it all, resting on the existing party walls.  

When the foundation acquired an adjoining building, Machado Silvetti remodeled it to expand the program activities. The triple-height flexible space supports more informal exhibits and large social events, its large facade opening to the street on important occasions. It also houses a workshop and dark room facilities for artists. Here, the existing facade was retained and painted to match the color of the adjacent corrugated metal, creating harmony between the two volumes.