Farol Santander, Cultural center in Historic Center, Brazil
Farol Santander occupies a rectangular five-story building plus basement, designed by engineer Hipólito Fabre with facades and ornamentation by Fernando Corona and interior by Stephan Sobczak. Its eclectic architecture is predominantly neoclassical, with smooth Corinthian columns rising from a granite base. A central hall is lit by a skylight with French stained glass, surrounded by columns and balustrades.
Construction began in 1927 and was completed in 1931, with engineering by Hipólito Fabre, facades and ornamentation by Fernando Corona, and collaboration on the architectural project by Theo Wiederspahn. The building housed a succession of gaúcho banks: Banco da Província, Banco Nacional do Comércio, Banco Sulbrasileiro and Banco Meridional. After restoration it opened as Santander Cultural, and in 2019 it was renamed Farol Santander.
The center displays rotating art exhibitions across multiple floors, ranging from contemporary installations to historical objects. Visitors can also discover a permanent collection of antique coins throughout the rooms.
The entrance is at Rua Sete de Setembro 1028, on the edge of Praça da Alfândega. The restoration opened an atrium above the old stained-glass light well, so the French windows can be seen from above for the first time. Exhibitions occupy the ground floor and second floor, while the basement holds a cinema, café and restaurants in the former vaults.
The basement houses a cinema within former bank vaults, where visitors can watch digital presentations about Porto Alegre's history. This unusual venue combines the building's financial heritage with contemporary cultural programming.
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