Palacete na Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 19th-century mansion in Santo António, Portugal
The Palacete na Rua Mouzinho da Silveira is a town mansion with French neoclassical architecture and Gothic elements, marked by a curved corner and tower-like structure. The building has a rectangular footprint and uses the natural slope of the terrain, with the ground floor appearing as a basement level on two streets.
The mansion was built in 1887 and originally stood on an extensive property that extended to Rua Rosa Araújo, including separate service buildings such as a carriage house. The owners were part of Lisbon's wealthy merchant and industrial class during the city's period of growth.
The building reflects the taste of Lisbon's wealthy class in the late 1800s through its ornate stonework and decorated railings, which conveyed the high status of its original residents.
The building stands at the corner of Rua Mouzinho da Silveira and Rua Alexandre Herculano and is currently in use as an office building, which may limit public access. Visitors should note that the facade is best viewed from the corner to fully see the curved architecture and decorative details.
The building demonstrates an interesting solution for the uneven terrain: the basement on one side becomes a walk-out basement on the other side, creating three different levels that appear to be at the same height. This subtle adaptation to the site's topography shows practical problem-solving in 19th-century urban architecture.
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