based in the culturally important downtown district of the city, the abl is split between two buildings, the petit trianon and the palácio austregésilo de athayde.

the petit trianon, the headquarters of the institution, was given to the abl by the french government, in 1922.

the structure, a replica of the petit trianon of versailles, had been built just a year earlier to house the french flag, during the international exhibition in commemoration of 100 years of brazilian independence.