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Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe
Medellín (Antioquia) - Colombia
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In 1898 the Assembly authorized the Governor Dionisio Arango for the construction of "a Government Palace worthy of the importance they deserve the people's representatives Antioquia", 27 years after delivering this provision became a reality.

To move forward in building the Government Palace General Pedro Nel Ospina, handled the hiring of Augustine Goovaerts, an engineer architect of Belgian origin who was responsible for projecting the work. Goovaerts arrived in Medellin in 1920 and unfinished palace was handed over in 1927.

The draft Augustine Goovaerts consisted of five levels, including the basement and attic. In this area were distributed 315 pieces for different offices, a large hall for the Departmental Assembly, storage, printing, library, archive, museum and home to the Governor. The style was chosen in the Gothic version "flowers" or "Renaissance", very in vogue in Belgium, during the time that their Goovaerts advanced architectural and engineering studies.

The design of the Palace was framed in a historical context marked by an accelerated process of modernizing the economic and social structure. The large flows of capital from external borrowings and the compensation of Panama, the introduction of modern media, cups of high population growth, the consolidation of an industrial bourgeoisie and a working class, the beginning of the gradual conversion country's rural urban country, the opening to the outside world, the growing preference of the ruling class regional and national thoughts, ideas and projects themselves of European culture and the U.S., and the dispersion and poor state of public offices, were the main phenomena occurring in the twenties in Antioquia, which in one way or another, identified the erection of a pompous government headquarters.

Since its design, the palace became the highest personal and professional frustration of Augustine Goovaerts, both by delays and changes in implementation, as many critics and enemies that he won.

According to the study of historic buildings can be divided into five phases and constructive vivenciales:

Initial Stage (1925-1930)

It began with the construction of the section on the street Calibío and continued with the Bolivar and block archival and Assembly. The work had suspended by order of Governor Camilo C. Restrepo, given the great crises of the year 29.

Stage White (1932-1936)

After that in 1932 were restarted work constructively this stage covered the work of white octagonal unity and eastern wing of taco monumental staircases with their lobbies and balconies on the career Bolivar. During this period the plane had to be reformed original Goovaerts since the area of the balconies went to several pieces. This work was mainly in charge of the architect-engineer Jesus Mejia. It highlights the beautiful interior decoration of the Assembly Hall, with its multiple "leaded lights" or stained glass, made by the architect Arthur Long.

Dark Stage (1937-1965)

Since 1937 the Palace was "tugurizado", the generosity of the interior areas and height at different levels, office buildings were used to clear the growing bureaucracy of government departments. The spacious halls of the unfinished building were sealed with makeshift fences and 5 levels virtually became 10.

Since that year, the administration began planning the construction of another building as the seat of government. The new administrative center would be located on the grounds of the Railway Station.

Final Phase (1966)

It covered basically the construction of the north facade before the final determination to leave the building unfinished. In designing it, it retook some elements of the original decoration. The work was of Architects Gerardo Mejia, Gustavo Restrepo and Gustavo Aristizábal. In 1987 he moved to the civil sector of the Alpujarra and called Palace Calibío was earmarked as the headquarters of the Directorate of Cultural Extension of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Antioquia. This year marked the beginning of the restoration of the building and began to be called Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe. "

Stage Restoration (1987-1998)

The Palace Calibío was and remains an undeniable mark of urban Medellin, for his courage constructive, urban, economic and cultural reality and perennial track remains one of the most interesting and dynamic periods in the history of Antioquia.

The work done during this period includes the restoration of the building and fitness for a new use. Since this is a national monument intervene, followed the pattern set by the Council of National Monuments.

Dedicated to Maryori - COLOMBIANA