Edificio Santa Lucía, Streamline Moderne residential building in central Santiago, Chile.
The Edificio Santa Lucía, also called Edificio Barco, is a residential building at the corner of Merced and Santa Lucía streets in central Santiago. Built in 1932–1934 by architects Sergio Larraín García-Moreno and José Arteaga, it has a slight curve that follows the line of Santa Lucía street and small round windows that give it the look of a ship.
Constructed between 1932 and 1934 by architect Sergio Larraín García-Moreno, this building marked one of the first examples of modern architectural style introduced to Chilean soil.
Locals call it the Edificio Barco, the Ship Building, because its rounded windows and curved facade recall a vessel. The nickname shows how residents read the Streamline Moderne form as a symbol of movement and progress, and it is the name most often used in the street.
Located at the intersection of Merced and Santa Lucía streets near Santa Lucía metro station, the building remains accessible for architectural tours and cultural visits in central Santiago.
Locals call it Edificio Barco, the Ship Building, because of the rounded porthole windows set into its curved facade. The nickname stuck, and the building is still a private residence rather than a museum or tour site, so visitors see it from the street at the Merced and Santa Lucía corner.
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