Palacio Arabe, Mudéjar building in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
The Palacio Arabe is a Mudéjar building in Mar del Plata that blends Islamic architectural features including arcades, filigree detailing, polychrome tiles, and a distinctive minaret positioned at one corner. This five-story residential complex displays decorative columns, ornamental moldings, gallery balconies on the fourth floor, and an elaborate facade on the top level.
The structure was commissioned by Syrian immigrant Jalil Mahmud Hassein and designed by architect Valentín Brodsky, completed around 1948. Its creation reflects the wave of Middle Eastern immigration that shaped Mar del Plata's built environment during the mid-20th century.
The building displays Arabic inscriptions reading 'God is Great' on the first-floor balcony, reflecting how Middle Eastern communities brought their design traditions to Argentina. These decorative elements show the cultural connections that shaped the city's architecture.
The building sits at the intersection of San Martin and Cordoba streets and can be viewed from the outside for architectural study. Visitors can examine the facade and visible details from the street, though the interior remains private as an active residential complex.
The design represents an unusual fusion of Spanish Mudéjar tradition and Middle Eastern aesthetics, a rare sight in South America. This blend emerged through the direct collaboration between a Syrian patron and his chosen architect, who together created a style bridging both worlds.
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