The unfinished Miraflores building: it is supported by thin columns and could collapse, but it is still inhabited

Did you know this mysterious building? Video: TikTok EnTuBarrio

In the country there is more than one building that would not successfully pass a regular control by entities dedicated to preventing disasters, much less have security measures or permits for its operation. Some even operate informally and often in the sight and patience of the authorities who can do little or nothing to remedy the potential disaster they represent for the tenants and neighbors around them.

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It is not necessary to go to peripheral areas of this convulsed Lima to find some of these buildings that defy all the principles of engineering and would make even the most expert in the matter doubt.

We are located in the Miraflores district, known for its vibrant nightlife, elegant homes, huge parks and an ocean view worthy of envy. No one could imagine that here, on one of the busiest streets in the district, is located a mysterious eleven-story building that has been half-built for an uncertain number of years.

The history of the building is almost as confusing as its particular structure. Located exactly on block 3 of Benavides Avenue, the colossus does not have an exact date of birth. The Municipality of Miraflores reported that construction began in 1963, however, many neighbors discard this version and have stated that it began in the late 1980s.

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In those days the real estate agency in charge, of which even less is known than the start date of the building, would have run out of funds before completing the work, which is why the project was paralyzed.

Unfortunate news for those owners who had already paid the initial fee that would allow them to live in the exclusive area.

With no other solution in sight, the best option for those who had already paid would have been to live in the apartments even though they did not have the conditions to house them. Regardless of the details of this version, the truth is that today, up to the 8th floor, at least 30 families live in the middle of a structure so fragile that it could suffer serious damage and even collapse in the face of a high-intensity earthquake.

The building is located in the heart of Miraflores. Photo: TikTok EnTuBarrio

The structural problems of the colossus are visible without needing to be a great observer or expert in engineering or derivatives. Its façade, which stands out for the almost ‘natural’ color of the concrete and bricks, is no different from what would be seen in a post-war setting.

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Although the owners have made each space their home, as revealed by the exterior decorations with ornamental plants or curtains, you can see how the upper floors do not even have a window, finishes, and are missing some side walls. It is said that each neighbor finished his apartment as best he could, although it is unknown if this is true. Between floors there are still some unfinished and uninhabited spaces, there are informal connections and exposed cables that are a real danger.

In this area there is no guardhouse or anything similar, most of the doorbells are inoperative and there is no elevator. Nor was the construction of one planned, as evidenced by the lack of a column for its installation, despite the fact that buildings above five floors should have this device.

On the other hand, the damage of humidity is evident. The passage of time is unforgiving and the concrete exposed for so many years to water leaks could have weakened the iron beams and rusted them until making them as fragile as a wooden rod.

Merchants who carry out their activities on the first floor assure that some apartments do not have some basic services such as electricity, water or even drainage.

Without escape routes, fire extinguishers or correct signage, the outlook for the building in eternal construction in Miraflores can only get worse when emphasis is placed on the thin columns that support all its weight and are a cause of concern for security experts.

The structure has been exposed to humidity and does not have escape routes. Photo: TikTok EnTuBarrio

Much has been said about it and the same conclusion is always reached: a building like this is a potential danger to its inhabitants and surrounding spaces. Likewise, in the event of an earthquake greater than 8 degrees, part of the structure could collapse, according to what the then dean of the College of Architects, Ricardo Yep, told Panamericana Televisión.

“These are somewhat narrow columns and it is also not noticeable, from what is seen from the outside, that they have plates that correspond to an earthquake-resistant design,” he said.

For its part, El Comercio collected the statements of the geologist engineer Juvenal Medina, who at the time explained the following:

“In that building you can see the asymmetry that takes the weight to an extreme. The columns appear very thin and are out of proportion to the load. Furthermore, the walls do not show fastening elements at the junction of exposed brick walls.”

The statements more than reaffirm the risk that exists for those who live in the precarious building that, it is worth highlighting, is just a few blocks from the Municipality of Miraflores and Kennedy Park. This is not to mention that various businesses and a busy nightclub that hosts hundreds of people on weekends operate in its vicinity.

The building is located just a few minutes from Kennedy Park. (Capture)

It is known that the last inspection of this building was carried out in 1994 through a factory declaration granted by the commune of Lima, the municipality reported. Although some renovations were achieved, for many it seems unusual to think that a space of this nature would continue to function.

Since then, almost 30 years have passed without anyone knowing exactly what will happen with the construction, which contrasts sharply with the effervescence of the district where it is located. This place that, due to its faults that were difficult to remedy, was paralyzed in time and will never be able to keep up with the modernity that surrounds it.

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