La Giralda - 08000786 - PRAHA

La Giralda - 08000786

Description

View of the south facade of La Giralda, located in the Miramar sector of the Santurce neighborhood in the Municipality of San Juan. This eclectic residence, built around 1910, combines elements of the Neoclassical and Victorian styles and was designed by architect Francisco Valinés Cofresí. Its square, irregular floor plan features four levels of reinforced concrete, including an attic, a basement, and the gabled roof. The facade is organized into three sections, presenting a symmetrical design with balanced proportions. The central section of the first level has a double entrance door made of mahogany wood with fixed glass panels. The entrance portico, which forms part of the balcony, features partially fluted Corinthian columns on a base the same height as the concrete balustrade surrounding the balcony, and a series of steps providing interior access. Although partially hidden by the balcony's hanging curtains, the other two sections of the facade on either side of the main door have windows framed by concrete molding, a lower cornice, and lintels. The walls are covered with smooth plaster. The second-level facade features another balcony that protrudes slightly toward the front of the building. A closed double door can be seen, surmounted by keystone concrete lintels and framed by quoined pilasters on either side, creating a high-relief effect. A rectangular glass window with geometric designs is on either side of the door. The third floor, the attic, is characterized by a small balcony surmounted by a wooden pediment, a double door, and narrow single-pane glass windows on either side of the door. From this balcony, one can see the low roof of the second level, covered with a weather-resistant bituminous cardboard membrane simulating wooden shingles. A weather vane or ornament crowns the upper part of the attic. The Victorian-style gabled roofs of La Giralda combine the classical pediment element, which is present in many Neoclassical buildings. The original roof was composed of wooden trusses covered by zinc panels, but it was reconstructed. Due to the height of the floors, the arrangement of its architectural elements, the effect of the tower, and the volumetric balcony, La Giralda retains the scale of the properties of its time. A low wall with concrete pillars in front of the house divides the garden area from the street. In the background, several buildings, trees, and palm groves can be seen. La Giralda is a historic house that reflects the majesty and dignity of its place and time design. This neighborhood emerged as a planned residential suburb for the local upper class in response to the population growth of San Juan in the 19th Century. Miramar's architecture consolidated into an exclusive residential setting that contrasted with other areas, accentuated by the arrival of transportation that connected the area to the urban center. The house stands out for its size and durable construction materials, as most houses of the time were made of wood. Although it suffered alterations and deterioration, it was restored in the 1990s, maintaining its exterior integrity, and has become an icon of Miramar's architectural and social history.
Origin Name
La Giralda 1910
Relation
Oficina Estatal de Preservación Histórica > Colección Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos, Nominaciones 2005+ > San Juan, La Giralda - 08000786
Geographical Coverage
San Juan
Date
1910
Descriptive Notes
The title and general description contain information from the nomination submitted to the National Register of Historic Places by OECH, the State Office of Historic Preservation in Puerto Rico.
Colaborador
  • Valinés Cofresí, Francisco (1878 - 1949)
Historical Background
Architectural Subject
  • Historic buildings
  • Stairs (series of steps)
  • Windows
  • Balustrades
  • Columns (architectural elements)
  • Moldings (object components)
  • Pediments
  • Cornices
  • Neoclassical
  • Victorian
  • Pilasters (wall components)
  • Gable roofs
  • Dwellings
  • Capitals (column components)
  • Eaves
  • Weathervanes
  • Façades
  • Attics (exterior stories)
  • Piers (supporting elements)
Decolonial Subject
Rights
English Rights. (hyperlink)
Editor
Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín
Resource Format
JPEG
Resource Type
Image
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