How did Neocolonial architecture reinterpret Latin America’s colonial past?

Neocolonial architecture emerged in the early 20th century as a nationalist reaction against the dominance of European academic styles, representing a deliberate effort to define a distinct Latin American identity by revalorizing the region's colonial heritage.1

Architects reinterpreted this past through several approaches:

• Direct Replication: Some projects functioned as literal or scaled-up replicas of colonial-era structures. For example, the Archbishop’s Palace in Lima was designed as a large-scale reproduction of past colonial buildings, while the 1922 Mexican Pavilion in Rio de Janeiro was a replica of a viceroyal palace featuring a Baroque portal.1
• Eclectic Synthesis: Designers often combined colonial elements with other styles. In Buenos Aires, the Cervantes Theatre blended colonial and Classical features, while the Argentinean Pavilion at the 1929 Iberoamerican Exposition utilized an eclectic replica of a Mexican Baroque facade.1
• Modern Integration: Some architects sought to evoke the Hispanic past while incorporating modern elements. In Caracas, Manuel Mujica Millán developed a Neo-Baroque style that integrated modern sensibilities with the aesthetic of the Mission style, bridging historical memory with contemporary needs.1