Nicaragua - ICOMOS World Report on Monuments and Sites in Danger 2002: Heritage @ Risk

20th-Century Eclectic Architecture: Historic Centre of Managua
Managua, the capital of the Republic of Nicaragua, due to its geographic location in the volcanic range of the Pacific Ocean and the characteristics of its geologic formation, has always suffered the violence of nature, including eruptions, floods and earthquakes. Natural disasters, particularly during the 20th century, have been the principal cause for the destruction of the city, notably the events of 31 March 1931 and 23 December 1972.

Until the end of the 1940s, a series of reinforced concrete-based buildings developed in Managua. The style was eclectic, with influences of Californian colonial architecture and French neo-classical. These public and residential buildings represented a decisive step in the history of the country, very similar to the step that was taken for the reconstruction of the capital with technology differing from the traditional systems of construction using adobe and taquezal. The December 1972 earthquake, which destroyed the capital city for the second time, forced the residents to totally abandon the centre of the city; the majority of buildings with an eclectic character were either partially or totally destroyed during this earthquake.

From 1973 to the beginning of 1990, the Historic Centre of the capital was not subject to any kind of intervention. It was not until the mid-1990s that a series of works were initiated conducive to the recuperation of certain buildings of great value and historic significance from the definitive position of the national cultural institutions (Museum, Archive and National Libraries).

The eclectic architecture of the Managua Centre is considered to be unique in the country, as the major part of it was designed and constructed by the first Nicaraguan foreign-graduate architects. Currently a great part of those buildings are in a poor state of conservation; they have made little use of the existing legal framework and the buildings have not been prioritised in the Intervention Plan for the Rehabilitation of the Historic Centre. Among the buildings of great importance we have considered:

Old Cathedral of Santiago (1927-1940)

Designed and built by the firm of Belgium architects 'Dambach and Gauthier', it is the first building in the country to use a steel structure, built in the Ateliers Metalurgiques de Nivelles in Belgium. In the 1972 earthquake it suffered severe structural damage, especially in the northern façade and in the last two flights of the towers. It remained abandoned until the mid-1990s when its restoration was decided but then suspended until the end of the same period, due to problems with the foundation of the building. These problems are considered to be irrecoverable. Currently, the site is exposed to the danger of earthquakes, especially in those areas affected by the 1972 earthquake.

Old Presidential Gallery

The Gallery was built at the end of the 1930s for the Government and the National Army protocol. It was part of the old 'Campo de Marte' (Field of Mars), which housed the high command of the Army and the Military Club. Currently it is under the custody of the National Army and is part of the Historic National Park 'Loma de Tiscapa' (Hill of Tiscapa).

Old Mantica House

Designed by the architect Julio Cardenal in a Californian colonial style, the building first served as a residence. Following the December 1972 earthquake, it was not suitable for habitation, maintaining this status until 1990 when the Foundation of Contemporary Art Museum 'Julio Cortazar' installed the totality of the museum's art-works in the building. Due to the poor condition of the building, the collections were transferred to the National Palace of Culture in 1998, consequently abandoning the building.

Conclusions

The eclectic architecture of the Historic Centre of Managua has to be revalued following its official declaration as Historic Cultural Heritage. In addition, the Nicaraguan State needs to co-ordinate its actions with the community and with academic institutions in order to undertake investigations and publications to communicate the intrinsic values of the mentioned sites.

In addition to being exposed to deterioration from the lack of conservation, the sites are exposed to earthquakes and, to a certain extent, to vandalism. What is necessary is immediate intervention, at least at a level of re-strengthening the structures to guarantee a longer life.