This is not a blog about History. This is a blog about Architecture, if anything. But there are moments in which History and Architecture mix up in a way that it gets impossible to mention one without referring to the other. That said, it is mandatory to remember the story of the construction of the […]
24 ALVARO ALVIM STREET HEYDENREICH BUILDING, DESIGNED IN 1926 C. UNKNOWN AUTHOR | MORTAR BAS-RELIEF | 1926 As the Patron of Merchants, the roman god Mercury – Hermes, for the greek -, is the absolute champion of uses in Rio façades. He is everywhere, from the small commerce of the nineteenth century still standing sobrados to the […]
Hi, folks! Lately I´ve been gathering the references to catholic saints that occur in some tile sets in some Rio´s North Zone residences – most of them owned by portuguese natives. I intend to publish them some day, when the “collection” increases. In the meantime, and due to the proximity of Saint George Day – […]
We should not confuse the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé with the Church of Venerável Ordem Terceira de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo, almost twinned side by side, with their main entrances facing Primeiro de Março Street. The first one, which has already been the Real Chapel, the Imperial Chapel […]
Today´s post registers the presence of a bas-relief located at the main façade of the Colégio Estadual Paulo de Frontin, whose new building was inaugurated on December 10th, 1929. Well preserved till then, the façade of Professional School Paulo de Frontin (Escola Profissional Paulo de Frontin) can be seen below, in a photo taken from […]
15, DOM MANUEL STREET FORMER NAVAL CLUB, DESIGNED BY FRANCISCO CORREIA CÂMARA, 1898 C. PRESENTLY NAVAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM UNKNOWN AUTHOR | MORTAR BAS-RELIEFS, 1900 C. Built to be the headquarters of the Naval Club, the external decoration here alludes, mainly, to the many navigation instruments that have helped men to conquer the sea throughout the […]
Hi, fellows! I write today about the works of art put in the winter garden of the building located at 375, Presidente Antonio Carlos Avenue, in Downtown Rio – headquarters of the Rio de Janeiro Ministry of Finances. But before I start – first things first – a quick historic introduction is necessary. By the […]
MINISTÉRIO DA FAZENDA: AS OBRAS DE ARTE DO JARDIM DE INVERNO Olá, amigos! Escrevo hoje sobre as obras de arte colocadas no jardim de inverno do edifício-sede do Ministério da Fazenda no Rio de Janeiro, na Avenida Presidente Antonio Carlos, 375, no Centro. Antes, porém, permitam-me uma rápida explicação histórica. Através do Decreto número 24.504, […]
Amigos, Olá! Evidentemente que o Egito não é aqui. Alguns diriam infelizmente, mas é porque eles não moram lá… Outro dia peguei-me pensando nas várias referências na arquitetura eclética carioca à civilização humana que tanto impressionou – e continua impressionando – os estudiosos: o Antigo Egito. Vamos, então, por ordem de minha preferência, aos endereços […]
Dear readers, Hi! It is true that Rio is not Egypt. Some would say unfortunately, but this is because they don´t live in Egypt… I caught myself the other day thinking about the numerous references in Rio architecture concerning the human civilization that has impressed specialists so much over time – and continues to do […]