Palacio Aldunate, Neoclassical building at Alameda and Ejército Street, Santiago, Chile.
Palacio Aldunate is a neoclassical building located where Alameda and Ejército Street meet in Santiago. Its most distinctive architectural features include a semicircular dome, fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals, and triangular pediments that shape its overall composition.
Liberal politician Luis Aldunate Carrera purchased the land in 1893 and hired architect José Benito Mannheim to design the residence in 1915. The building later faced severe damage from an electrical fire in 2013 that prompted major restoration efforts.
The palace reflects French architectural styles that became fashionable in Santiago during the early 1900s. Its design and proportions conveyed wealth and status through the language of neoclassical forms that dominated the city's elite residences.
The building is visible from the street and easily accessible from the Alameda, one of Santiago's major thoroughfares. Best viewing happens during daylight hours when architectural details are clearly visible from the sidewalk.
During restoration work, architects inserted a hidden metal structure inside the building to stabilize it structurally while keeping the original facade completely unchanged. This behind-the-scenes intervention allows the neoclassical exterior to stand as it appeared in the early 1900s.
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