ABSTRACT
The traditional two-dimensional gridiron layout of colonial cities throughout the New World is easily recognized in Buenos Aires, starting at Plaza de Mayo or May Square, an integral public square since the city’s founding during the Spanish colonization of South America in the sixteenth century. The city’s original sixteen by nine quadros plan followed, like other Spanish colonies in the New World, the “Leyes de Indias” or Laws of the Indies. These laws prescribed specific methods, dimensions and, in general, the design rules for colonies. Derived by similar rules and practices of colonization within Europe and from a range of sources including Vitruvius, its critical stipulations included laying out the colony into square blocks on the cardinal directions with the center square designated as a plaza and focus of the town. The central plaza’s size would correspond and allow for the town’s ultimate expansion. Street widths were determined both by climate and the ability of the military to move easily through the city while surrounding buildings were lined with colonnades for protection from the elements (Broadbent 1990: 42-48).
