After visiting the Museo del Bombero (Museum of Firefighters in Spanish), I learned all about the old city of Guayaquil and, how it was mostly destroyed by random, raging fires. Although the city is directly next to the Pacific Ocean, the lack of humidity in the air caused a dryness that would put every home built from wood in danger. Strong winds would also cause fires to spread rapidly through the entire land. As a result, Guayaquil lost many of its important architectural landmarks such as government buildings, political statues and churches. Most of the city has been rebuilt using modernized techniques, such as the use of brick and cinderblock to prevent fires. Even though the city has safer foundations and structures, the government felt that it was necessary to remember their history by recreating the designs of some of their most cherished colonial buildings.
The city government of Guayaquil started Regeneración Urbana projects, which is Spanish for "Urban Regeneration", in the late 1990s. This project involves the reestablishment of important buildings using the cultural Spanish design, such as the Municipal of Guayaquil, a place used for the offices and meetings of politicians, and the San Francisco Church, an major church located in the downtown area. Some of the important features of these designs inlcude large, wide arches for the entrance, and tall pillars located all throughout the building. Other detailed features one can find are massive, arch-shaped windows, and pointed steeples. This architecture represents the beautification of the city after they were conquered by the Spaniards.
