November 9, 2009

Neo-classical Corinthian

Built in 1940, the former Finance Building in the City of Manila was designed principally by the Filipino architect Antonio Toledo, who received his training at the Brooklyn Institute of Technology, Ohio State University and Cornell. Toledo was a member of the Bureau of Public Works, the agency which was in charge of the construction of all government buildings during the American colonial era. He also designed the Manila City Hall. Heavily damaged during WWII, the Finance Building was rebuilt after the war by the construction and engineering company of A. M. Oreta. In 1998, it was renovated again in time for the Philippine centennial, this time to house part of the collection of the National Museum of the Philippines. That part was the museum's collection of Philippine archeological artifacts and what used to be the Finance Building is now the Museum of the Filipino People.

neo-classical Corinthian columns of the National Museum of the Filipino People, formerly the Finance Building

This post is dedicated to our good friends Vic Oreta, one of A. M. Oreta's grandchildren, and his wife Cecile.

21 comments:

Copenhagen said...

What a great era of architecture.

Sharon said...

They don't make buildings like this anymore.

Lowell said...

A building of grandeur! And a grand place for the museum!

Clueless in Boston said...

Great perspective. The columns look magnificent.

gogouci said...

Very beautiful geometry and detail. Magnificent perspective.

Chin said...

What a magnificent place.

Don and Krise said...

What a place. The architecture is something else.

Leif Hagen said...

I don't think even a "tuff" woman like Hilda could push over one of those pillars!

Kaori said...

Great angle, Hilda :)

FA said...

Beautiful shot, Hilda. It looks like something right out of Italy! It's been a week or so since I've visited. I'm glad to catch up on all the good things that I've missed. God bless!

BlossomFlowerGirl said...

Lovel the way you've taken it showing the detail under the roof.
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VP said...

FA is right, compare your Corinthian capital to the ones of my Theme Day post for this month: they are almost identical even if the columns are different.
Great ancgle and beautiful image of a great building.

Irredento Urbanita said...

Love the composition, it has a sensation of speed !!

Regards

Valery

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Lois said...

I love any building with columns!

Ken Mac said...

love the angle

Carlos Lorenzo said...

The angle is risky and yet attractive. Nice looking acanthus leaves on these Corinthian columns :)

Halcyon said...

Neat angle!

brattcat said...

I'm feeling a bit of vertigo, looking up at this.

marley said...

Lovely architecture and funky angle too!

Cezar and Léia said...

What a fabulous column!I loved this angle, perfect shot!
hugs
Léia

Anonymous said...

Such a classic! Great perspective!