Casa Salazar-Candal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Salazar–Candal House
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The Historic 1911 Casa Salazar-Candal in Barrio Tercero
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Calle Isabel 53, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Area | < 1 acre |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Blas C. Silva |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000663 |
| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1988 |
The Casa Salazar-Candal (also known as the Salazar–Candal House) is a very old and special building. It is located in the historic part of Ponce, Puerto Rico. This beautiful house was built in 1911.
It was designed by a famous architect named Blas Silva. The house mixes different old building styles. These include Classical revival, Art Nouveau, and Spanish Revival styles. Today, the Salazar–Candal House is home to the Museum of the History of Ponce. This means you can visit it and learn about the city's past!
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History of the Salazar-Candal House
The Casa Salazar was designed in 1911. It was built for Dr. Guillermo Salazar Palau and his wife, Sara Isabel Rivera Carbonell. Dr. Salazar gave the house to Sara Isabel as a wedding gift.
Later, the house became a meeting place for important groups. One group was the Alianza Nacionalista de Ponce. This group wanted Puerto Rico to be independent. Another group was the Liga Progresista de Ponce. This group worked to improve the city's social life, culture, and businesses. They were active in the first half of the 1900s.
Why the Salazar-Candal House is Special
The Casa Salazar-Candal is one of many unique houses in Ponce. These houses were built between 1900 and 1915. Architect Blas C. Silva Boucher designed it in 1911. The building shows a new trend in architecture. It freely combined many different styles.
The front of the house is very detailed. It uses Rococo and Moorish designs. This shows that the building had two main uses. It was both a home and an office.
Home and Office Design
The part of the house where the family lived looks fancy. It has delicate decorations and is not perfectly even. It has a balcony that is raised above the street. This balcony acts as a bridge. It connects the public street to the private family space.
The office part looks different. It has a Moorish style, like a fortress. It has a crenellated parapet (a wall with gaps, like a castle). It also has horseshoe-shaped arches. The office section is closer to the sidewalk. This made it easy for people to visit the office.
Artistic Touches Inside
A skilled artist named Elias Concepcion worked on the inside. He created many beautiful decorations. You can see curved, flower-like designs in the stained glass of the double doors. There is also a straight, wooden screen. This screen divides the foyer (entrance hall) from the living room. It reminds people of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Just like the outside, the inside mixes different styles. The entrance hall has metal decorations. These match the Rococo style seen outside. They make the house look rich and fancy. Elias Concepcion was known for blending different styles. He worked on many fancy homes in Ponce and Yauco.
What the Salazar-Candal House Looks Like
The house sits on a large piece of land. It measures about 31 meters along Isabel Street. It is about 13 meters along Mayor Street. It was built in 1911. The house uses strong materials like reinforced concrete, brick, and stone. Part of the roof is concrete. The rest is timber with metal sheets.
House Shape and Sections
The house has an L-shape. The main part holds the public rooms and bedrooms. An extra section, called the "martillo" (which means "hammer"), completes the "L" shape. This is where the kitchen and service rooms are.
Outside Details
The front of the house mixes classical designs with Moorish details. It has three main parts. There is a large balcony for the family. On either side are two enclosed spaces. These were once the doctor's offices. You could enter these offices directly from the street.
The main doors are special. They have a unique lobed arch design. These doors also have beautiful stained glass panels in the 'Art Nouveau' style. The family's balcony is raised on a stone base. It has five pairs of Corinthian columns. A fancy balustrade (railing) from Italy serves as the balcony's fence.
A classical-style cornice runs along the entire front of the house. There is also a crenellated parapet above the office space. A decorated 'cartouche' on the parapet shows the year the house was built. This is above the stairs leading to the main floor.
Inside the House
From the street, you go up the stairs to the main entrance. This leads to a foyer. From the foyer, you can reach all the rooms in the house. The stained glass panels in the living room are very special. They show a strong Moorish influence in their shape and colors.
The doors inside have louvered panels and stained glass. The living room, studio, and bedrooms all have pressed tin ceilings. These details make the house truly unique.
See also
