The Modifications of the Main Façade of the Spanish Senate Palace

Abstract

In the historical study of the Senate Building façades have been given the interventions taken after the Civil War (1936-1939). The first phase began around 1951, under the responsibility of the architect Ambrós Escanellas who justified the reconstruction of the façades because the plaster and renderings were in dire conditions and broken stone areas affected by frosting. According to the photographic documentation, there was a complete removing of lining facade of the Plaza de la Marina, and the dismantling of all its ornamental elements. It indicated that in the works to be performed, apply a veneer artificial stone "polished arcosite Butsems" made from portland cement according to XRD analysis carried out. It was also expanding the second floor to 1969-1974. In any case the evolution of the fronts are the result of a process to adapt the set to new uses and the currents of modernization. The South front in particular is the most documented by changes in the church of the former Augustinian monastery (1581-1601) to become Courts Salon to 1814 and later Plenary Salon.