The complex was built on the site of the former Mercado del Plata.
It is one of the few theater buildings in the world designed specifically to include public exhibition galleries for visual arts.
The facade features a famous 30-meter high glass window that provides a visual connection between the street and the building's lobby.
The Sala Martín Coronado is one of the largest and most technically advanced stages in the city.
It was declared a National Historic Monument of Argentina in 2017.
The building was designed to be 'an open house' for culture, incorporating a design that allows the public to walk through parts of the lobby as a transition space.
Teatro General San Martín is the flagship venue of the Complejo Teatral de Buenos Aires, located on the historic Avenida Corrientes. The building is a prominent example of brutalist architecture, designed by architects Mario Roberto Álvarez and Macedonio Ruiz. Opened in 1960, it occupies a substantial city block and functions as a multi-disciplinary cultural complex. It houses three main performance halls: Sala Martín Coronado, Sala Casacuberta, and Sala Cunill Cabanellas. The complex also features extensive exhibition spaces, a cinema, and a library specializing in the performing arts. It serves as a base for the Ballet Contemporáneo del Teatro San Martín and the Grupo de Titiriteros. The architecture emphasizes raw concrete, vast glass windows, and an integration with the public street level. It functions as a public institution under the governance of the Buenos Aires Ministry of Culture.
From the opposite side of Avenida Corrientes for a full view of the brutalist facade, or inside the main hall capturing the dramatic contrast of the concrete walls and red seating.
Check the exhibition gallery schedule, as these are often free to the public even without a performance ticket.
The theater hosts free guided tours; inquire at the information desk to learn about the history and architectural details.
Arrive early to appreciate the brutalist interior design, which is often considered as significant as the performances themselves.
Do not mistake the street-level gallery exhibits for the ticketed theater performances; they are separate experiences.
The theater typically hosts shorter programming or maintenance periods during the mid-summer months of January.
Smart casual attire is standard for evening performances; silence is expected in the theaters.
