Palacio Liévano

The Palacio Liévano or Lievano Palace Is a building located on the west side of the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogotá, Colombia in the cultural and historical hub of the city. The palace is located in La Candelaria district. Along the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria are other formal buildings such as the Plaza de Bolivar, the Palacio de Justicia, and the Casa de Nariño, as well as a library and museums.

The palace was converted into Bogotá's city hall in 1974.

The site where the Liévano now stands originally featured a number of administrative buildings, and the residence of Sanz de Santamaria and the Viceroys till 1810. Seriously damaged by the 1827-28 earthquakes, they were demolished and, in 1848, were replaced by a building known as the Galerías Arrubla, built by Juan Manuel Arrubla between 1843 and 1848. Bogotá's largest building at the time with a façade 53 m (174 ft) long, it was the centre of the city's business interests as well as the seat of the municipal administration.

After the building was completely destroyed by fire in 1900, one of its owners, the engineer Indalecio Liévano, managed to persuade the other owners that the French architect Gaston Lelarge (1861–1934) should be invited to draw up plans for a new building. In 1903, in agreement with the city authorities, a contract was concluded for the construction of a new building designed by Lelarge. Under the supervision of the architect Ricardo Lieras Codazzi the building was completed in 1907 at the same location where the galleries had been gutted earlier in 1900. Liévano built it with his own funds. Lelarge's design respected the proportions of the old Arrubla building but adopted a Neoclassical idiom which was new to the capital. However, the city administration acquired all the ownership rights of the palace in 1960.

After it had finally been decided the building should become the city hall, it was adapted to the purpose in 1974 by Fernando Martinez Sanabria under the architect Fernando Martinez but without the Mansard roof. The arcaded façade was nevertheless maintained but the shops and businesses which had once bordered the square had now gone.

...
Wikipedia