Bianca,
my question was partially just a question pure and simple. but also part of me was getting tired of listening to all the "should i move to ba, pls convince me" discussions on this website so i threw out a little architectural emotion. so part of me wanted a change in topics. the part of me that hasnt visited a lot of ba past the central portion hoped to hear about more interesting buildings to visit around the city. and the last part of me wanted to hear what all these people who throw out "all the great architecture in ba" " it truly is a historic district" really mean as i feel like my architectural opinion of ba basically unfortunately feels that the face of buenos aires is lots of grey ugly rectanglur shaped buildings with balconies across their sides. this is really what you see if you look in the broad sweep. that said, i like buenos aires, am here when im here by choice because i like it.

again i urge people to speak up for the buildings they care about.
end the demolition!
http://basta-de-demoler.blogspot.com/

i think there are a fair number of handsome buildings around town - mostly some older ones and as tangobob pointed out a few newer ones. to me, they are interesting, they are worth preserving for the most part as part of the history of the city. but most of them as examples of their particular genre, when compared to many other examples of whatever style they are, are not pioneering, innovative or close to being the best examples of that genre or style. that doesnt mean they are not impressive, beautiful, interesting, worth preserving. it simply means when compared to others, they are not the best examples of their style. so in my mind, are not "great" architecture. i dont really want to be cast in the mold of not liking the many examples of beautiful buildings here, i do like them. but kind of like beatles look-a-like shows, they dont quite make it to beatle level. or now mj look-a-like shows. although in that case, at least their personality might be better.... so i dont agree with any statement that ba is "full" of great architecture. there certainly are some great buildings. but its not the majority nor is it even a substantial number that are great. the proportion is less than many other cities. and more than some.

so what is a great architecture to me?
its a man made structure that exhibits a combination of (positive) qualities that rise above and set it apart from other structures of similar function and or style. thats of course subjective and usually it takes some time and the sum of many peoples judgements for a structure to qualify.