Faded Glory

Mexico City is a place full of fascinating architecture, from the Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles of the colonial era to shiny glass 21st century skyscrapers.  Sadly there are many architectural gems that have seen better days.

Take for example this Art Deco building along Insurgentes Avenue.  Shaped like the prow of the ship and sporting porthole windows it must have been quite innovative when it was built.

As I was walking through the Juárez neighborhood on my way back from the Ciudadela Handicrafts Market last week, I saw quite a few interesting buildings that must have been the height of elegance when they were built.

Here is another Art Deco building, which differing sculptural details under the windows.

Many of the fine, old buildings date back to the beginning of the 20th century during the "Porfiriato" (the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz).  The architecture of the era mimicked the styles of France.

Here are a couple of once elegant structures...

Sadly, this house appears to be beyond repair.

I was especially intrigued by this old building which takes up an entire city block.  It was completed in 1913, shortly after the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution, but it still follows the elegant European style of the "Porfiriato".

I was able to find an article about this building on the internet.  The structure is called "La Mascota", and the article refers to it as the first condominium building in Mexico.  It extends over 300 feet along Bucareli Avenue and contains 174 apartments which after more that a century are still occupied.  

It was built by Ernesto Pugibet, a French-born businessman who owned a major tobacco company in Mexico City.  The housing complex was constructed for his workers.  Within the complex there are three streets... actually gated courtyards... around which the apartments are situated.

Peering through the gate into one of the courtyards

Although the exterior is marred with graffiti, the interior "streets" appear to be quite pleasant and well maintained.

One of the courtyards is named Gardenia Street.  Pugibet named it after his wife's favorite flower.

In addition, throughout the building you can supposedly still see the initials "G.P" engraved in honor of his wife, Guadalupe Portilla.

The internet article included this cool photograph showing the building as it appeared in 1967.