Almacenes Félix Sáenz, Modernist department store building at Plaza Félix Sáenz, Málaga, Spain
Almacenes Félix Sáenz is a Modernist department store building at Plaza Félix Sáenz in central Málaga with distinctive corner bay sections and running balconies across its exterior. The Mediterranean facade displays ornate iron railings and balustrade details that frame the entire structure.
The building was constructed between 1912 and 1914 by architect Manuel Rivera Vera, replacing an earlier market hall on the plaza. Major renovations in 2011 transformed the upper levels into residential apartments while keeping the lower floors for retail.
The building was part of a commercial operation that shaped shopping habits across the region during the early 1900s. The ornate design reflects how wealthy merchants expressed their status and embrace of modern design through their storefronts.
The building is accessible today with an H&M store in the lower floors where visitors can observe the Modernist architecture from inside. The renovated private apartments above are not publicly accessible, though the facade and interior stairwell are visible from the street.
Beneath the building, 2009 excavations uncovered about 90 Muslim burials dating from the 8th to 10th centuries, oriented toward Mecca. These findings reveal the site held religious significance for centuries before the department store was ever constructed.
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