Architecture+Designe || LIMA THE CITY OF BALCONIES 🏛

One of the places I like to visit in the city of Lima, is its historic center. Strolling through those beautiful cobblestone streets transports you to another era. I always find something that I had not seen in the previous walk, so I always want to return.

There are many historic buildings with incredible designs that reflect a sample of the predominant architecture of the time in which they were built, most of these buildings were built in the time of the Viceroyalty when Lima was the spoiled city of Spain, which is why most of these buildings have many European references.

I have a great fascination for old buildings, that is why I never tire of marveling at the beauties that can be seen in the historic center of the city. It is not for nothing that this place has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In my most recent visit to Cercado Lima, I was walking through several streets where there were many huge colonial-style mansions, very well preserved by the way, what impressed me most were the beautiful balconies. That is why this publication is dedicated to the balconies of Lima.

According to the Royal Academy, a balcony is a window open to the floor of the room, usually with a cantilevered extension and a railing.

Colonial architecture is one of my favorites. I love the houses with huge windows and wooden doors. And of course the beautiful balconies that these types of houses had. Balconies have always seemed to me very classic and very romantic, the first thing I think of when I see a balcony is the play Romeo and Juliet, but also in novels inspired by the colonial era.

Lima es conocida como "La ciudad de los balcones" precisamente por la cantidad de edificios antiguos con enormes balcones que embellecen las calles de la ciudad. Según un artículo de la revista Viajes de National Geographic , fue precisamente por estos hermosos balcones que la Unesco decide declarar el centro histórico de Lima como Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad.

Existe una gran variedad en cuanto el diseño de estos balcones, algunos son muy grandes y vistosos; otros son un poco más pequeños y discretos. Los materiales de construcción también son diferentes; los de aspecto colonial son en madera y los que tienen que ver con la arquitectura Virreinal varían en sus materiales.

• BALCONES ABIERTOS: Son aquellos que son descubiertos.

OPEN BALCONIES: These are those that are uncovered.

• BALCONES RASOS: Aquellos que no sobresalen de la fachada.

FLUSH BALCONIES: Those that do not protrude from the façade.

• BALCONES DE CAJÓN: Son totalmente cerrados. Su estructura y soporte son generalmente de madera.

CAJON BALCONIES: They are totally closed. Their structure and support are generally made of wood.

• BALCONES LARGO DE CAJÓN: Son balcones corridos, se usaban en las casas de múltiples usuarios.

LONG CAJON BALCONS: These are continuous balconies, used in houses with multiple users.

Con respecto a su conservación y mantenimiento, a finales de la década de los 90, la Alcaldía Metropolitana de Lima llevó a cabo una campaña llamada “Adopta un balcón” en la cual invitaba a organismos e instituciones a adoptar un balcón de la ciudad y de este modo asumir el costo que implicaba su restauración y mantenimiento.

La campaña se llevó a cabo con éxito y la ciudad sigue teniendo sus hermosos balcones.

With respect to their conservation and maintenance, at the end of the 1990s, the Metropolitan Mayor's Office of Lima carried out a campaign called "Adopt a balcony" in which it invited organizations and institutions to adopt a balcony of the city and thus assume the cost of its restoration and maintenance. The campaign was successfully carried out and the city continues to have its beautiful balconies.

• Todas las fotos fueron tomadas con mi teléfono celular Samsung A32

• Imagen de portada, banners y separadores de texto son diseñados por mí en con Canva.com

• Uso traductor Deepl