Asilo de las Hermanitas de los Pobres de Santiago, Historical nursing home in Santiago, Chile.
The Asilo de las Hermanitas de los Pobres de Santiago is a historic building with an H-shaped floor plan where a central chapel divides separate wings for men and women. Large gardens surround the structure and the complex now houses a pharmacy and other public services for the community.
A French architect designed this building in 1898 and used reinforced concrete slabs, a new technique at that time in Chile. Since its completion, it has survived several major earthquakes, proving the reliability of its innovative construction.
The building came into existence through donations from a wealthy family and shows how the Catholic Church supported elderly care in Chile. It is used today by the community and reflects the social work that religious institutions provided to the city.
The building sits at the corner of Carmen and Ventura Lavalle streets, making it easy to locate. Visitors should note that the complex houses public services and parts of the gardens are accessible to the public.
The building was among the first in Chile to be constructed with reinforced concrete, which was considered an experimental building method at the time. This early use of modern techniques made it a quiet witness to the city's technological development.
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