#heritagewatch

HERITAGE ADVOCATES OPPOSE EL HOGAR DEMOLITION

Pinapa-inspeksyon ni Mayor Joseph Estrada sa City Engineer's Office ang gusaling El Hogar kung dapat ngang ipa-condemn. Ayon kasi sa bagong may-ari nito, delikado ang gusali sakaling magka-lindol. Tutol naman ang mga heritage advocates sa pagbuwag ng gusali na itinuturing na crown jewel ng Maynila.

In 1913, El Hogar purchased a building next to the HSBC head office in Binondo. After demolishing the 50-year-old structure that stood there, Don Antonio Melian hired architect Irureta Goyena to design a modern reinforced-concrete, three-story office building in the Beaux Art style. Built at the cost of 680,000 pesos, El Hogar was considered a masterpiece of its time. Melian later added a fourth floor to the building, in 1920, along with a corner tower. Upon entering the building, you are lead to the center courtyard with balustrade-lined corridors. Despite the decay, you will be able to see vestiges of its former elegance. Shining through the dirt and dark is its Art Nouveau design, particularly seen in El Hogar's lovely staircase that connects the different levels with bronze griffins for the posts. A romantic touch is added via the grillwork on the staircase, which features the initials of Don Antonio and his wife.

from the article El Hogar by Anson Yu

PHOTOS BY SHERWIN MARION T. VARDELEON

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El Hogar to be torn down?