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OLA Palermo was born out of a vision to transform an underutilized parking structure into a key civic destination. In partnership with BSD Investments and the city of Buenos Aires, ODA proposed a bold adaptive reuse strategy that would preserve 80% of the existing structure while introducing public green space, flexible programs, and improved connectivity. Positioned between El Rosedal park and the Palermo Hippodrome, the project aimed to stitch together previously divided neighborhoods. The concept introduced vertical gardens, a rooftop park, and a porous framework to encourage movement, visibility, and inclusion—reimagining the site as a vibrant cultural and urban connector.
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OLA Palermo is strategically positioned between the Palermo Hippodrome and El Rosedal park, transforming a former parking structure into a vibrant civic destination. Once a barrier between neighborhoods, the site now fosters urban connectivity through more than 40,000 square feet of green space, a rooftop park that expands the public realm vertically, and a pedestrian-friendly promenade. Its striking glass façade mirrors the surrounding landscape, creating a visual dialogue between architecture and nature. The porous framework ensures openness and accessibility, while ground-floor retail, cafés, and restaurants activate the street. OLA Palermo blends built form with landscape to reconnect and revitalize the urban fabric.
Sustainability was central to OLA Palermo’s design. Rather than demolish the existing parking structure, ODA repurposed 80% of it—drastically reducing embodied carbon and construction waste. The project introduces more than 40,000 square feet of landscaped green space, including a rooftop park that expands biodiversity and supports urban cooling. A reflective glass façade maximizes daylight and reduces reliance on artificial lighting, while the mixed-use programming encourages walkability and public transit. These strategies promote environmental responsibility, reduce emissions, and prioritize inclusive, resilient urban regeneration.
OLA Palermo is a large-scale adaptive reuse project that revitalizes an underutilized parking structure into a key urban destination, enhancing connectivity between two previously divided neighborhoods. Strategically located between the city’s racecourse and the beloved El Rosedal de Palermo park, the 160,000-square-foot development transforms the site into a multifunctional space that blends public and private functions. The design features over 40,000 square feet of open green space, a rooftop park that extends the public realm vertically, and a pedestrian-friendly promenade. A commercial brewery, cafés, restaurants, and retail spaces activate the ground level, while flexible office environments with private terraces support indoor-outdoor workspaces.
OLA Palermo contributes to sustainable urban regeneration by expanding the city’s green space, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting walkability and public transit. By reimagining an obsolete piece of infrastructure into a vibrant, inclusive environment, the project prioritizes community engagement, environmental responsibility, and urban resilience. Balancing function and experience, OLA Palermo sets a new benchmark for innovative, sustainable development and exemplifies ODA’s commitment to reordering architectural priorities by putting people and cities first.
“The treatment given to these open air gardens is that of a wild landscape with native flora. But it won’t be a park made to contemplate, it will be a dynamic area, to stroll and explore “, says Álvaro García Resta, Former Secretary of Urban Development of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires “The healthiest city is that which has a balanced mixed use of its public space. Where only one thing happens and not many, the number of people making use of these shared spaces is restricted”.
ODA is a New York–based architecture, interior design, and landscape firm founded by Eran Chen in 2007. The practice is internationally recognized for its bold, people-centric design across a wide range of building types and urban scales. With a focus on challenging zoning constraints, redefining the boundaries between public and private space, and expanding access to green space in cities, ODA aims to create places that foster connection and vitality. Its diverse portfolio includes residential towers, cultural institutions, adaptive reuse, hospitality, and master planning. ODA’s projects have been published globally and honored with awards from AIA New York, Architizer, and Fast Company, among others.
