The Luneta Hotel along Teodoro M. Kalaw St. corner Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) faces Manila Bay.
Luneta Hotel was built in 1918 and was considered one of the few remaining French inspired architecture in Manila that stood the test of time. The National Historical Institute already declared Luneta Hotel as a National Historical Landmark.
Currently, Luneta Hotel is an abandoned building and the soroundings was converted into a parking space for rent.
According to some online forums, Luneta hotel is now being managed by PAGCOR and rumored to be transformed as Manila’s newest Casino.
TRIVIA:
During the Japanese Occupation in Manila, Walter Dempster Jr. also known as Walterina Markova ; popularly known for his movie Comfort Gay portrayed by Dolphy, experienced Japanese Soldiers Brutality in this hotel.
Luneta Hotel before the World War II
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Get Philippine Travel News on your inbox - Join Lakbay Pilipinas Mailing List
I’ve always been intrigued by the sheer anachronism of this hotel amidst the squalor that surrounds it today. One day I bribed the guard so I could do my own investigation inside. It is pure rubble inside with fierce steel bars sticking out from all angles, and in the middle as if thrusted from the earth gigantic steel beams reach up to the roof past blasted rooms with parts of its walls betraying its elegant past. Outside above the cramped balconies overlooking Rizal’s monument lurch incredibly preserved gargoyles straight from, it seems, Notre Dame. Are there interior fotos of its lost grandeur?
we have just inspected the building. exterior ornaments can be restored to originaldesign. even without old plans we dont foresee problems in restoration.
i.g. de leon & sons , our firm, produced precast concrete ornaments for metropolitan theater(both pre-war building and 1970 restoration}we also did congress building, now national museum; department of agriculture,now dpt. of tourism bldg.;restoration of old ateneo de manila, intramuros, now ecj building and many more old and restored buildings in manila.
iron woks seem to be in good condition, but should be inspected by steel fabricators. underconstruction right beside luneta hotel is a multi storey building that will obstruct right side view of the hotel.
I think, our government should restore and renovate this hotel without changing the original design of the building and operate again as our National Hotel. This may attract foreigners and tourists, especially to those who are obsessed in historical places. Tourists might have good package, because they can stay in a Historical hotel and at the same time, they are in the vicinity of our national places like Rizal Park, intramuros, Manila bay,etc.
People may enjoy and love visiting and stay in this hotel (if it will operate again to the public).
This old architectural gem is currently undergoing rehabilitation and retrofit. Thanks to the new owner, Beaumont Holdings Inc.
Restoration works will almost everything in the interiors of the building while trying to preserve the existing exterior facade of the building.
Structurally, its like “constructing a new steel-framed structure inside an existing building”.
Incidentally, I am the structural design engineer of this rehabilitation project.
This old architectural gem is currently undergoing rehabilitation and retrofit. Thanks to the new owner, Beaumont Holdings, Inc.
Restoration works will include almost everything in the interiors of the building while trying to preserve the existing exterior facade of the building.
Structurally, it’s like “constructing a new steel-framed structure inside an existing building”.
Incidentally, I am the structural design engineer of this rehabilitation project.
I love this building and often wish I had the money to give it a makeover the “proper way” – how professionals would restore buildings abroad – without it looking fake afterwards or how that Titanic director created a replica of the real Titanic, preserving all the details on the outside – allowing people to relive the vibe of the past.
I’ve been wanting to go inside for years but was worried I’d get mugged or something. I went to The Filipinas Heritage Library and couldn’t find photos of how it used to be inside.
Glad to hear someone finally stepped up!
I will definitely go there someday.