Originally constructed in Avenida Josina Machel and now located near the Tunduro Botanical Garden and the Statue of Samora Machel the Iron House is one of the most unusual and fascinating buildings in Maputo.
The building itself is entirely produced of steel and was designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (the same Architectural Engineer who designed the worldwide famous landmarks of The Statue of Liberty in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris).
The Iron house was completed in 1892 and commissioned by the Portuguese Colonial Governor from Belgium. It was originally designed to be the residence of the General Governor of Mozambique; Although designed as a residence it was never occupied as such due to the hot and humid subtropical climate in the City of Maputo.
After completion in 1892 it was initially used as a judicial court building and thereafter found many uses varying from a teaching college for Nuns to a municipal land works and planning office.
It was moved from its construction site in 1974 to its present location and the Iron house once again had many and varied tenants. Its later history found it being used in its present use by the National Directorate for Cultural Heritage.
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