JAC
This building is the result of the 1932 renovation of Conde Martín de Tovar’s old house, combin-ing the preexistent colonial style with construction advances of the thirties, to produce a referential landmark in the historic district. To insure better functioning of public offices, Juan Vicente Gómez charged Chataing with rebuilding the colonial mansion located at the southeast angle of Carmelitas corner. Chataing, a freelance engineer for the Ministry of Public Works since 1930, designed the renovation maintaining the walls and the east and north façades. The reinforced concrete building has three floors connected by monumental staircases organized by a diagonal axis crossing the 260 square-meter central courtyard, covered by a glass and metal structure. The corner access is highlighted by a higher frontispiece finishing in a pediment with neo-baroque volutes. The decorated friezes, moldings, pilasters and wrought iron details contrast with the modern interiors. This work of Chataing in the thirties reveals a broad typological and stylistic handling of different architectural themes, which also stands out in the Parcel Post Service in La Guaira (1933), the Caracas Beggars Asylum (1935) and the School of Engineering (1940). The former post office is now a National Historic Monument.
DF-18
DF-19