MONROE PALACE
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Located in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the Monroe Palace was the first public building to be inaugurated on the Rio Branco Avenue, in 1906.
The palace had been originally conceived for the International Exhibition of Saint Louis, in the United States, in 1904, being rewarded by the jury of the event with the highest prize. It was the first Brazilian architectural work to be recognized internationally.
General Francisco Souza Aguiar was responsible for this project and had instructions to have the whole structure of the palace done in a way that the building could be rebuilt in the then Brazilian Capital, Rio de Janeiro.
Once rebuilt, the building was named Monroe Palace after the American president James Monroe.
It was still a pavilion for exhibitions until 1914, when it went through a series of renovations in order to host the Chamber of Deputies, which occupied it until 1922.
From 1925 to 1930, it was the headquarters of the Federal Senate. After the reestablishment of the Electoral Justice, the building served as office to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in 1945 and 1946.
Around 1970, the Institute of the National Historical and Artistic Patrimony (IPHAN) refused to put it under federal protection, as did with other buildings on the Rio Branco Avenue. The Monroe Palace obtained the protection status only at state level.
The lack of federal support for its preservation became a serious problem in 1976, when its demolition was requested, due to the construction of the subway. The demolition was supported by exponents of modern architecture such as Lúcio Costa, and by the Globo newspaper, which vehemently attacked it through editorials.
The Institute of Brazilian Architects (IAB) and the Engineering Club, on the other hand, tried to preserve the building by all means. However, not even changes in the subway map were enough to save the palace, which was demolished in that same year.
The City of Rio de Janeiro is currently developing projects for its reconstruction.
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