Mapua Mansion, Heritage house in Pasay, Philippines
The Mapua Mansion is a heritage house in Pasay featuring Art Deco elements such as detailed ornamental moldings and well-planned interior layouts along Taft Avenue. The structure displays refined facade details and open spatial flow characteristic of this early 20th-century style.
The mansion was designed and built in 1930 by Tomas Mapua, the first registered architect of the Philippines. During World War II the building served as a command center and was later damaged during warfare.
The mansion shows how wealthy families lived during the early colonial era, blending European design trends with local building practices. Its style continues to define the character of older streets in this neighborhood.
The building sits in an active urban neighborhood with modern developments, so reaching it by public transport is straightforward. Visitors should check access conditions in advance since this historic house does not operate as a standard tourist attraction with regular visiting hours.
The mansion survived air raids and explosives during the Battle of Manila and still bears marks of this destruction today. These scars tell a story of resilience and stand as evidence of the dramatic events of that period.
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