Murcia: Business Center Metropolis Empire

**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 05:27 AM

I've read the last document carefully. The Baroque bridge was designed by the engineer Toribio Martínez de la Vega and finished by the architect Jaime Bort. However, the bridge was extended because it was too narrow and added the current existing metal platform to expand and get more meters wife. Who designed the expansion of the bridge ?

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 07:21 AM

The bridge was initially designed by the engineer Toribio Martínez de la Vega on the ideas and plans drawed by architect Juan Marfil in 1701. Work began in July 1718 with the foundation work of the bridge on the river bed. Shortly after, the construction works were halted during two decades and resumed in 1739 under the direction of the architect Jaime Bort. The project was substantially modified by Jaime Bort and the construction works were completed in 1742.

In 1850, because of the narrowness of the bridge, it was decided an extension project for the Baroque bridge, ordered by Salvador Marín Baldo to municipal engineers. These expansion work in 1850 were insufficient when it was visited the city of Murcia in 1862 by Queen Isabel II. As a result, the Municipality commissioned a new expansion project to engineer Juan Moreno Rocafull, who designed the current existing metal platform to expand the width of the bridge, being completed works in 1867.

In the 60's, following the opening of the Gran Via avenue, the old Baroque bridge was unable to absorb all private vehicular traffic generated by new developments on the area. This gave rise in 1970 to build a new bridge in front of the Bishop's Palace, which was designed by the engineer José García León.

Similarly, in the 90's was built at the vicinity a suspension foobridge, designed by engineer Javier Manterola, which served to relieve the ancient Baroque bridge built in the eighteenth century the increase of pedestrian crossing by it.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 07:49 AM

Then, the first image was taken between 1867 and 1881, right ?

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 07:56 AM

^^^ Exactly.

The iron metal platform to extend the bridge was installed in 1867 by engineer Juan Moreno Rocafull and the construction stage of the Victoria Hotel began in 1881. The picture was taken from Parador del Rey atop around 1870.

This is another picture taken from the east side of the bridge at this time.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 08:08 AM

Nicely photographic documents !

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 08:11 AM

^^ Yes, indeed.

Such was the street life and the people of Murcia 140 years ago !

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 09:05 AM

Do you have pictures taken on the 70's during construction stage on the bridge built in front of Bishop's Palace ?

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 09:58 AM

The new bridge, known as Miguel Caballero Bridge, was built in 1970 to solve the traffic problems suffered by the old bridge was then two-way. The bridge was designed by engineer José García León and built in the vicinity of the Baroque ancient bridge across the Segura River in front of the Bishop's Palace. A decade ago, in the late 90's, was improved aesthetically because its design was inadequate for the noble area of the city where it was erected.

Miguel Caballero Bridge is a bridge of prefabricated reinforced concrete beams, with top of the same material based on three central cylindrical cells, arranged in columns. It's sited in the midway of the ancient bridges over the Segura River, between Old Baroque Bridge and New Iron Bridge, opposite the Episcopal Palace, whose facade later, facing the bridge, is an outgoing body known as The Hammer of the Bishop's Palace ("El Martillo")

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41825421@N04/4001136855

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 12:04 PM

I remember beside the Miguel Caballero Bridge there was till late 80's a flour mill that was protected as a monument (BIC), whose building was preserved by the Municipality to open a museum. What do you know on the topic ?

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 01:14 PM

It's the old issue of La Constancia Flour Mill factory . Part of the factory was demolished in the early 90's to build on the site a luxury penthouse. The construction of the apartment building was not without much controversy because many felt that its modern aesthetic was inadequate for the environment and choked the old building protected by leaving it hidden. Besides the controversy arose also because it was finally authorized to build one more floor in addition to planned in the initial project.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7vsl/52...57622708323022

Part of the old factory was preserved to open a museum reminder of the old flour mills existing at the city on the past. The problem arose because while the building was restored the valuable machinery that existed inside was moved to a warehouse in an industrial park and, unfortunately, was stolen.

Currently, the City Council owns part of the building restored (the basement and ground floor) but the museum could not be opened. In recent years, this building has been proposed by the confectioners asociation of the city to open a Museum of Chocolate, but finally the project was rejected by the City Planning Department. The proposed Museum of Chocolate was designed by architects Alarcón Carazo & Eglinger in 2010 (post# 1034).

http://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/murc...de/317643.html

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 02:25 PM

The authorization to add one more floor ob the original building in compensation to promoters for the floor area given to the Municipality to open the planned museum was an intolerable scandal. The building was completely disfigured and now has no historical value.

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 03:01 PM

Absolutely !
The ancient building of La Constancia Factory located at Hernández del Águila Street before began the restoration works...

Current image of the building after be added a floor on the top...

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · June 30th, 2012, 03:19 PM

Who designed the building ?

**Dr.T** · June 30th, 2012, 06:51 PM

The architect is unknow, but they talk about architect Rodolfo Ibáñez as possible designer because the building reminds to La Innovadora Factory at El Palmar Road. The architect Rodolfo Ibáñez assisted in other projects well known as the Municipal slaughterhouse and cemetery... but, it is only a hypothesis !

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