Casa Bizantina

The Don Lorenzo del Rosario House, also known as Casa Bizantina, is a heritage house museum originally located at San Nicolas, Binondo, Manila. It was transferred and reconstructed in 2009 at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Bagac, Bataan. It was designed by a Catalan architect Joan Josep Jose Hervas y Arizmendi, in 1890. It is the only existing building designed by the Architect Arizmendi in the Philippines. In addition to that, it was cited by Tribune magazine in 1939 despite its neglected state.HistorySpanish Army Captain Esteban de Peñarubia modernized the Binondo area, especially along Calles Fundicion, Ylang Ylang, Aceiteros and Jaboneros, after a major fire incident in 1863. It encouraged several businesses such as metal casting, oil extraction and soap making. The ground level of the houses built serve as commercial spaces while the upper floors serve as residential spaces. One of the which was the Don Lorenzo del Rosario House, owned by Don Lorenzo del Rosario, a signer of the Malolos Constitution. In 1868, Peñarubia was appointed military governor of the Abra province.Joan Josep Jose Hervas y ArizmendiJoan Josep Jose Hervas y Arizmendi was a Catalan architect, born in Barcelona, Spain. He got his degree in 1879 and became the municipal architect, or arquitecto municipal, of Sitges and Tortosa in Spain and in Manila, Philippines from 1892-1898. One of his works were private residences such as Casa Perez Samanillo in 1910, for which he was awarded the 1911 Barcelona City Council Prize. Casa Perez Samanillo was owned by the Perez-Samanillos, former Manila residents. They owned the Perez Samanillo building at Escolta, Manila. His other works include Hotel de Oriente and La Insular Fabrica de Tabacos y Cigarillos.