An approach to urbanism in Argentina : Urban types and their evolution over four hundred years

From the colonization of the present Argentine territory by the Spaniards onwards, the foundation of towns and villages implied the effective occupation of the land. Towns were settled along the main commercial routes, while villages appeared in relation of the defence of the frontiers or the exploitation of natural resources. Most urban centres were constructed according to a previous plan that included urban layout and plots system. After the independence from Spain, new towns and villages were founded, especially in territories not occupied in colonial times. The regular grid pattern layout introduced by the Spaniards continued to be predominant up to the 20th. century, something that allows to refer to typical Argentine urban features with incidence in the country’s cultural identity. The purpose of this article is to introduce the evolution of the most typical urban layout over four hundred years and a reference to the present situation of the main Argentine cities.Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC