Edificio London París facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edificio London París |
|
|---|---|
Edificio London París in 2013.
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Offices and apartments |
| Architectural style | Eclectic |
| Location | 18 de Julio Avenue and Río Negro in Centro, Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Coordinates | 34°54′22″S 56°11′36″W / 34.90623°S 56.19343°W |
| Construction started | 1905 |
| Completed | 1908 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Adams or Julián Masquelez |
The Edificio London París (which means London Paris Building in English) is a famous building in Montevideo, Uruguay. You can find it where 18 de Julio Avenue meets Río Negro street. It was built a long time ago, between 1905 and 1908. The building has a special eclectic style, which means it mixes different architectural ideas. For many years, from 1908 to 1966, it was home to a very popular department store also called London París.
Contents
About the London Paris Building
Building Its History
The idea for this building started in 1890 when a company called Standard Life wanted a new place. Construction finally began in 1905. The building was designed in an eclectic style, which means it combines different styles from the past. When it opened in 1908, it was one of the first tall buildings in Montevideo.
Unique Features of the Building
The top of the building has a narrow, round dome with columns. On top of this dome, there is a statue of Atlas. Atlas is a figure from Greek myths who holds up the sky. This statue was a symbol for The Standard Life insurance company, which was the biggest in South America at that time.
The dome itself cannot be reached by stairs. There are three clocks around the base of the dome. These clocks look like they are separate, but they are all controlled by one central machine.
The Famous London París Department Store
The building is most famous for being the home of the London París department store. This was the very first department store of its kind in Uruguay. It was started in 1908 by Pedro Casterés and Juan Pedro Tapié.
How the Store Grew
The store first opened on the ground floor and in the basement of the building. People often called it El London. It became very well-known for its wide range of products. Later, the store expanded into the upper floors of the building. By 1915, more parts were added, making the store very large.
By the 1950s, London París had seven floors of shopping space and two basements. It had 1,100 employees and even its own delivery vans. The store also offered special services like a doctor's office, nurses, and translators for customers.
Challenges and Closure
The store first focused on selling expensive, high-quality items from Europe. It was known for its "no questions asked" refund policy and did not usually have sales. However, by the 1960s, the store faced challenges. It had a lot of unsold products and started offering discounts. Eventually, due to various problems, the store had to close its doors in 1966.
What Happened Next
After the London París store closed, other businesses moved into the building. In the 1970s and 1980s, an ice cream shop called Papitos was on the ground floor.
Modern Use of the Building
In 1995, the ground floor was updated by architects Conrado Pinto, Alberto Valenti, and Arturo Silva Montero. Five years later, the upper floors were also restored. In 2008, the building was sold.
Today, the building, which was originally designed for homes, now has offices and shops. A McDonald's restaurant is located on the ground floor.
