Teatro Enrique Molina, Historical theater near Parque Ecuador, Concepción, Chile
Teatro Enrique Molina is a neoclassical building on Victor Lamas Avenue in Concepción, featuring a main hall with wooden floors, grand curtains, and prominent staircases throughout its complex structure. The building sits beside the Municipal Library and displays the architectural hallmarks typical of theaters built during the 1930s.
The building was designed by architect Onofre Montané Urrejola between 1929 and 1935 and survived the 1939 earthquake intact. The 1960 seismic event, however, caused severe structural damage that has persisted to the present day.
The theater takes its name from Enrique Molina Garmendia, the founder of the University of Concepción, and was originally built as a performance venue for the city's educational institution. Today, visitors can appreciate how the building reflects the region's commitment to arts and learning during the early 20th century.
The building is fenced off for safety reasons and not open for public access, but you can view the historical structure clearly from Victor Lamas Street. Daytime visits work best when you can see the architectural details from the sidewalk near the Municipal Library.
The structure has withstood multiple powerful earthquakes measuring up to 9.6 on the Richter scale while maintaining its original 1930s form. This resilience makes it a noteworthy example of construction techniques from that era in a highly seismic region.
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