Murcia: Business Center Metropolis Empire

[MURCIANICO-KID]

Thanks so much for the explanation.
Where were located the Palace of Marques de Ordono and the Palace of Marques de las Almenas ?

[Dr.T]

PALACE OF MARQUÉS DE ORDOÑO
6, Capuchinas Street
Murcia City. Murcia Community
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Status
Demolished in 1976

The Palace of Marqués de Ordoño was located at former Capuchinas Street (today Barítono Marcos Redondo Street). The Palace was built in the late eighteenth century. In 1794, the architect Pedro Gilabert designed its harmonious facade in Neoclassic style. In this building was born the great Murcian historian Juan Torres Fontes in 1919 ( was the Ordoño Marquis' grandson). The building was demolished in 1976 despite not being in ruins as a result of the real estate speculation at this historical time.

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[Dr.T]

PALACE OF MARQUÉS DE LAS ALMENAS
Riquelme Street, Murcia City
Murcia Community

Status
Demolished on the 70's

Built in Renaissance style in the sixteenth century, was later entirely remodeled in the mid-nineteenth century by the architect Juan Antonio Alcaraz. Until 1961 was used as the Provincial Government of Murcia headquarters and, finally, at the beginning of the 70's was demolished.

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[MURCIANICO-KID]

Both demolitions are historically unjustifiable. However, the demolition of the Palace of Marques de las Almenas is really incredible today, because was a publicly owned building in 1961 and is not possible understood that the real estate speculation could fit in its case. I cannot understand how the Provincial Government of Murcia sold the building for developing dwellings on the site of the ancient palace and the City Council granted permission to do so.

[Dr.T]

Yes, it's true. The Provincial Government of Murcia sold the ancient palace for obtaining financial funds in order to pay the new headquarters developed in 1962.

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[MURCIANICO-KID]

How much costed the new headquarters built in 1962 ?

[Dr.T]

About 13 Million pesetas (€78,000) in 1962.

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[MURCIANICO-KID]

When the new headquarters development was approved by the Provincial Government of Murcia ?

[Dr.T]

The project was approved by the Provincial Government of Murcia on February 2nd, 1955 and the initial budget was about 10 million pesetas (€ 60,000). The expected deadline for developing the new headquarters was around 2 years.

In the end, the construction work lasted 7 years and the total cost was 13 Million pesetas (€ 78,000), approximately 30% more expensive than initially budgeted.

I've found an aerial photo taken in 1954-55, where you can see the vacant site of the ancient San Juan de Dios Hospital once the building had been demolished and was begin the works construction for the Provincial Government headquarters.

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[MURCIANICO-KID]

Who did design the building ?

[Dr.T]

It was designed by the Provincial architect Pedro Cerdán Fuentes, in the same way that the Provincial Hospital developed at Ronda de Garay Street to replace the ancient San Juan de Dios Hospital demolished in the Teniente Flomesta Avenue for building the new Provincial Government headquarters .

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[MURCIANICO-KID]

The press report tells that the City Council had planned in 1955 develop a central bus station and a hotel across from the Provincial Government headquarters. I knew nothing on the topic. When were changed the initial plans by the City Council ? When was approved to develop the new bus station in San Andrés neighborhood ?

[Dr.T]

Yes, indeed. The initial proposal envisaged in the City Planning (designed by the Municipal architect Gaspar Blein in 1940), to develop a central bus station on Murcia city, was located at Río Segura Avenue. In 1955 there wasn't a bus station on the city, and the regular lines were forced to use, for these purposes, the Camachos Square as a large bus stop on the downtown.

The initial proposal was amended in November 1969. At this point it was decided to move the initial project to develop a central bus station from Río Segura Avenue to San Andrés neighborhood. The facilities of the Central Bus Station of Murcia City were opened on September 18th, 1975.

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[MURCIANICO-KID]

I'd would like to chat for a while about the residential developments on the Libertad Avenue during the 70's.

[Dr.T]

Okay, no problems. But you have to wait till afternoon because Abbie wanna go shopping with me to the city.

You know, she's the boss... at home !