Between the Street and the Main Hall. The Foyer of the Municipal Theater of Santiago, 1857-1952

Abstract

Many times, change in architecture is bolstered by circumstances beyond an individual’s control. Discussing the reforms to the Santiago Municipal Theater building, from its inauguration in 1857 until almost a century later, Germán Hidalgo recounts many forces that drive change: natural disasters, stylistic debates, urban modernization, among others. The foyer occupies a central role in this narrative, as a space for presentation and representation: where the technical demands of the theater meet the aspirations of an institution, a city, and the building’s successive architects.

Keywords

• renovations
• accesses
• adaptation
• history
• conditions for change