Buenos Aires' 2014 CASA FOA Design Event Captivates Visitors at the Renovated Abbey of San Benito

This year's CASA FOA edition is set in a truly heavenly space.

The exclusive interior design event that transforms empty majestic buildings in Buenos Aires every year has chosen a beautiful abbey called the Abadía de San Benito (San Benito Abbey) for 2014. Click through the photos to be enraptured by whimsical objects, inspiring spaces, and temporary installations from this fantastic event full of modern/historical contrasts.

Pura Home mixes avant-garde design with natural materials, and this sweet, low stool combines a natural wood frame with a tactile woollen cushion.

Estudio Modo Casa designed a dark, masculine space called The Garage, which features a central workbench that’s specially designed for fixing bikes.

The Traza bench designed by M. Luisa Echeverría, M. Fernanda Gizzi, Francisco Mira, and Miguel Echevarría, is made from standard steel pipes and is the winner of the Urban Benches competition.

We loved this wall art piece in Grupo Haz‘s home office space, with its Scandi-style-inspired living moss illuminated by a geometrical wooden light.

Architect Adriana Randazzo created a unique library room with a prefab floor-to-ceiling bookshelf made from contrasting salvaged wood and blue glass, affixed to a scaffolding frame.

Within the same room, we spotted a comfortable wicker seat, which added a warm, natural touch to this original reading space.

Architect Viviana Melamed‘s space was full of warm lights and soft textures, like these carpets by artist Leandro Egido, which are crafted from little pieces of biodegradable felt for barefoot enjoyment.

Judith Babour envisioned a contemporary dining room for slow eating and relaxation. It includes one of Juan Diciervo‘s beautiful lamps made of wood, a ceramic shade, and a striking red cable.

One of the simplest yet most stunning rooms was Jorge Muradas and Eliana Elesgaray’s Masisa Auditorium, which was inspired by monks’ austerity: a nod to the abbey’s lingering mysticism.

Temporary installations played a big part at this year’s CASA FOA event, just take a look at Florencia Meller and Luisa Norbis‘ poetic play on one of the corridor’s ceiling.

Flying out from a fake brick on the wall, Matty Costa Paz‘s whimsical installation features origami butterflies and flying books.

The abbey’s central garden and its surrounding corridors are embellished simply with humble materials like an array of paper thread stretching from the arches towards the main building.

On the opposite side of the corridor, architect Paola Rossi placed huge mirrors on the old brick walls, reflecting the lush garden and making the space shiny and magical.

These sweet terrariums were also part of the show at the Abadía de San Benito’s Palermo district.

Renowned Argentine architect Julio Oropel turned this old swimming pool into a geometric wooden solarium, complete with striped deck chairs.

Oropel was also in charge of CASA FOA’s restaurant, which he made from modern furniture pieces that contrasted with the old church’s structure.

Right at the end, a colorful garden by Estudio Marta Carena & Asoc. lifts the spirits with a luxurious grass bed that’s ideal for resting upon after this year’s bustling event.