THE ALFONSO ZOBEL MANSION
Alfonso Zóbel de Ayala Roxas is the son of famous pre-war industrialist and philanthropist Don Enrique Zóbel y de Ayala, and father of former Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Zóbel de Ayala. Together with his wife, Carmen Pfitz Herrero, the couple had built a grand mansion for their family.
The house, located along the scenic Dewey Boulevard ( now Roxas Boulevard ) corner Padre Faura street in residential Ermita, was designed and a masterpiece of the Paris-trained architect Andrés Luna de San Pedro, son of the great painter and national hero Juan Luna. The house had been designed in the French Renaissance style, which was the prevalent design of the houses of Manila's elite at that time.
Unlike the fate of Manila's other precious buildings, the house had survived the devastating Battle of Manila in 1945. After the war, Don Alfonso sold the house to compensate what they had lost during the war years. Their house became the offices of the French Embassy in Manila when the Zóbels moved to their new home in suburban Makati.
The French Embassy soon vacated the house and moved to another location. Then the Bank of Asia occupied the mansion and made it one of their main branch in the 1960’s. The Bank of Asia had vacated the mansion and art galleries from nearby Tesoro's occupied the property due to the renovation of the latter.
The mansion was finally destroyed by the wrecking ball in the 1990’s, giving way to the 1322 Golden Empire Tower which now stands on the property.
Alfonso Zóbel de Ayala Roxas is the son of famous pre-war industrialist and philanthropist Don Enrique Zóbel y de Ayala, and father of former Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Zóbel de Ayala. Together with his wife, Carmen Pfitz Herrero, the couple had built a grand mansion for their family.
The house, located along the scenic Dewey Boulevard ( now Roxas Boulevard ) corner Padre Faura street in residential Ermita, was designed and a masterpiece of the Paris-trained architect Andrés Luna de San Pedro, son of the great painter and national hero Juan Luna. The house had been designed in the French Renaissance style, which was the prevalent design of the houses of Manila's elite at that time.
Unlike the fate of Manila's other precious buildings, the house had survived the devastating Battle of Manila in 1945. After the war, Don Alfonso sold the house to compensate what they had lost during the war years. Their house became the offices of the French Embassy in Manila when the Zóbels moved to their new home in suburban Makati.
The French Embassy soon vacated the house and moved to another location. Then the Bank of Asia occupied the mansion and made it one of their main branch in the 1960’s. The Bank of Asia had vacated the mansion and art galleries from nearby Tesoro's occupied the property due to the renovation of the latter.
The mansion was finally destroyed by the wrecking ball in the 1990’s, giving way to the 1322 Golden Empire Tower which now stands on the property.
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