Palacio Walker, Tudor palace in Santiago commune, Chile.
Palacio Walker is a five-story palace located on Concha y Toro Street with a total area of approximately 1,400 square meters. The structure features octagonal windows and elaborate arched details throughout its facade.
In 1870 mining magnate José Díaz Gana bought a quinta from the Mercedarian order and commissioned a palace from German architect Theodor Burchard, finished in 1875. Sold in 1876 to Enrique Concha y Toro, it became known as Concha-Cazotte. After Enrique died in 1922, his widow Teresa Cazotte had the estate subdivided; the old palace was auctioned in 1932 and demolished. The present Tudor palace was designed by Carlos Irarrázaval for Arturo Besa, built from 1923 and finished in 1928; Horacio Walker Larraín bought it in 1929.
The building displays Tudor-style elements that were typical of the European influences shaping Santiago's residential architecture in the early 20th century. Visitors can observe the elaborate arches and octagonal windows that characterize this architectural style.
The building sits in an easily accessible location and can be viewed from outside. The current operator, a publishing house, is planning its transformation into a cultural center focused on literary activities.
In 1985 an earthquake left the palace with serious structural damage and it was closed, yet it stayed occupied clandestinely, including by a brothel installed on the third floor. Squatters later proposed the Ainilin cultural centre, and their work earned them a 12-year comodato; internal disputes ended the project in 2009.
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