NewsWhore
07-21-2010, 03:50 PM
Santiago is facing the loss of its cultural identity with the destruction of so many of the historic buildings in its center. The dozens of houses and commercial structures that reflected Victorian, Republican and Antilles tropical architecture have been replaced by modern structures, generally for commercial use.
The former director of the city's cultural patrimony, Alejandro Carrasco said that since 2000 there have been 41 buildings destroyed in the so-called Historical Center of the city. According to architect Nelson Vinas, the majority of the downtown structures that were removed were of the Republican style, from the early 1900s, although a few were Victorian. Together with Carrasco, Vinas complained that there does not seem to be a government or a city policy of preservation of the historical buildings, and this is urgently needed.
Back in 2007, the government refurbished 1,700 houses and other structures in the Historical Center of Santiago, investing some RD$200 million, and included the lighting of the area around the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration. One of the key elements of any program of preservation will be the Hotel Mercedes, the most important structure in the "old" part of Santiago.
The survey of important buildings of cultural, architectural or historical value showed that there were 687 properties worth saving over 46 blocks in the area of absolute protection and 26 properties in the area of relative protection.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
The former director of the city's cultural patrimony, Alejandro Carrasco said that since 2000 there have been 41 buildings destroyed in the so-called Historical Center of the city. According to architect Nelson Vinas, the majority of the downtown structures that were removed were of the Republican style, from the early 1900s, although a few were Victorian. Together with Carrasco, Vinas complained that there does not seem to be a government or a city policy of preservation of the historical buildings, and this is urgently needed.
Back in 2007, the government refurbished 1,700 houses and other structures in the Historical Center of Santiago, investing some RD$200 million, and included the lighting of the area around the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration. One of the key elements of any program of preservation will be the Hotel Mercedes, the most important structure in the "old" part of Santiago.
The survey of important buildings of cultural, architectural or historical value showed that there were 687 properties worth saving over 46 blocks in the area of absolute protection and 26 properties in the area of relative protection.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)