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Casa Grande del Pueblo

Coordinates: 16°29′48″S 68°08′02″W / 16.49667°S 68.13389°W / -16.49667; -68.13389
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Casa Grande del Pueblo
Casa Grande del Pueblo in 2018
Map
Record height
Tallest in La Paz, Bolivia since 2018[I]
General information
TypePalace
Town or cityLa Paz
CountryBolivia
Coordinates16°29′48″S 68°08′02″W / 16.49667°S 68.13389°W / -16.49667; -68.13389
Groundbreaking2014
Inaugurated9 August 2018
Cost$34 million
OwnerGovernment of Bolivia
Height120 m (390 ft)
Technical details
Floor count29

The Casa Grande del Pueblo (English: Great House of the People) is the Bolivian presidential residence that replaced the Palacio Quemado in 2018.[1] Inaugurated on 9 August 2018 during the presidency of Evo Morales as the official residence of the President of Bolivia, the interim government of Jeanine Áñez reverted to occupying the Palacio Quemado from 2019 to 2020. Following the inauguration of Luis Arce on 8 November 2020, it has again become the residence of the president.[2]

History[edit]

Planning[edit]

The proposal for the tower was initially declined due to municipal height restrictions in the historical district, with La Paz's mayoral office saying that the Land Use and Settlement Patterns prohibited such buildings, with spokesperson Luis Lugones stating "If the government wants to build a 10 or 12-story palace, that would be prohibited".[3] Allies of President Evo Morales in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly assisted with bypassing the law, however, permitting the tower's construction.[4][5]

Controversy surrounded the location of the tower's proposed site, Casa Alencastre, a former residence of the archbishop that was built in 1821, before the creation of the Bolivian state.[3][6] Cultural and historical groups opposed the destruction of Casa Alencastre.[3][6] The historical building was ultimately demolished.[6]

Casa Grande del Pueblo was inaugurated by Morales on 9 August 2018[7] and cost $34 million.[8]

Design and features[edit]

The 29-story tower standing at 120 metres (390 ft) was the tallest building in the capital city of La Paz when completed.[9][10]

In the lobby, a mural of Pachamama created by Roberto Mamani Mamani is featured while an archway displays 36 faces, half man and half woman, representing the 36 recognized indigenous groups of Bolivia.[11] On the exterior, three symbols are displayed representing the three climate zones of Bolivia; the Andes, the basins of the mountains and the lowlands.[11]

The building features a helipad and the top two floors were reserved for the president, featuring a gym, spa and private elevator.[12][13] The presidential suite in total was 1,068 square metres (11,500 sq ft).[14] The bedroom was 61 square metres (660 sq ft)[14] and featured unique designer furniture, including a bed with indigenous patterns adorning the frame.[9] The bathroom and dressing room measuring at 47 square metres (510 sq ft)[14] and featured both a shower and jacuzzi.[9] A sitting room was decorated with a painting that had multiple portraits of world politicians, including Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro.[15]

2024 coup attempt[edit]

Main article: 2024 Bolivian coup attempt

On 26 June 2024, Bolivian military forces led by Juan José Zúñiga attempted to storm the Casa Grande del Pueblo as part of a coup attempt following Zúñiga being relieved from his post by President Luis Acre due to alleged threats made against former president Evo Morales. The coup attempt concluded with Zúñiga being confronted by President Acre within the Casa Grande del Pueblo, after which he was officially dismissed along with other military officials involved, and arrested.[16][17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New palace for Bolivian president". 2 November 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Arce ingresa a la Casa Grande del Pueblo para iniciar sus funciones como Presidente". Los Tiempos (in Spanish). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Casa Alencastre es más antigua que la república – La Razón". la-razon.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  4. ^ Collyns, Dan (16 August 2018). "Bolivian president's new residence is as imposing as it is divisive". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  5. ^ "In impoverished Bolivia, president's new palace an eyesore for some". France 24. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Desaparición del patrimonio histórico arquitectónico en La Paz". www.eldiario.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Cómo es la imponente y polémica "Casa Grande del Pueblo", la nueva sede del gobierno de Bolivia construida por Evo Morales". BBC News. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  8. ^ Collyns, Dan (16 August 2018). "Bolivian president's new residence is as imposing as it is divisive". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Bolivia: conozca la suite presidencial que ocupó Evo Morales en la Casa Grande del Pueblo". Expreso (in Spanish). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Las fotos de la suite de Evo Morales en La Casa del Pueblo: "Parece una habitación de un jeque árabe"". Infobae (in European Spanish). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Bolivian Express | Casa Grande del Pueblo". www.bolivianexpress.org. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  12. ^ Collyns, Dan (16 August 2018). "Bolivian president's new residence is as imposing as it is divisive". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  13. ^ "In impoverished Bolivia, president's new palace an eyesore for some". France 24. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  14. ^ a b c "La suite de Evo tiene 1.068 m2 e incluye sauna, jacuzzi y sala de masajes". Diario Pagina Siete (in Spanish). 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  15. ^ "¿Qué lujos tenía Evo Morales en la residencia presidencial?". El Universo (in Spanish). 16 November 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Bolivian police arrest leader of apparent coup attempt". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Bolivian general arrested after apparent failed coup attempt as government faces new crisis". AP News. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
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