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Fausto Giovannardi
Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
several national competitions in alpine not departed. Shortly after it enlisted, the
The years of its formation were years of the legality of golpisti against Franco.
great political and cultural effervescence, Years later, thinking back to this choice,
culminating in 1931 with the proclamation FC showed no regrets, and indeed said:
of the Second Spanish Republic, which "I could not even benefit from the
XIII. The cultural openness of the new learned some lessons from the revolution
government allowed the proliferation of and civil war, I was very useful."
opened a small studio with Eduardo civil war 2was long and ended with the
arrangement giving repetitions and doing Franco. After a long retreat through the
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
Pyrenees, the group Candela found moved to Mexico City to work with Jesús
refuge in the concentration camp at Martí, a refugee himself Spanish, who
Perpignan, France, where he remained directed a study of architecture. There it
for four months as an exile3, the fate remained for four years, probably the
wished that her name was among those most peaceful of his life, working on the
that Mexico was willing to accept . construction of many residential buildings,
Candela landed at Veracruz (Mexico) on and the reconstruction of the Casino de la
June 13 1939. Among the more than a Selva in Cuernavaca, recently returned to
thousand exiled Spaniards, who were the fore because nearly destroyed to
welcomed in Mexico, 25 were architects, make way for a supermarket4. In just
and Felix Candela one of the youngest. In created a hotel and a cinema in
addition to Spanish, other architects also Guamúchil and built its first line of section
arrived foreigners fleeing from totalitarian (at trial) and then apply it in the draft of a
regimes in Europe, as Cetto and Hannes ural school in Tamaulipas.
Max Meier. The gain realized that he was sufficient to
The arrival of this flower technicians come to Mexico, Spain, his mother and
coincided with a period of great his sister Julia and also shortly after his
development for the Central American brother Antonio5.
country, where government incentives Confident and optimistic for the prospects
construction, to meet the popular demand of his work, decided to found a building
of residences. contractor specializing in roofing. Thus
Thus beginning the second period of his cubiertas Ala, a company with the
life. Initially settled in a Spanish colony of 4
A serious attack on the World Cultural Heritage has been
exiles, 100 km north of Chihuahua, where made in Cuernavaca in Mexico: the destruction of the Casino
de la Selva, the Mexican Sistine Chapel. " The Mexican weekly
shortly after she married Eladio Martin, 'La Jornada' reported the protest of Colombian writer Gabriel
Garcia Marquez who, along with a group of intellectuals, will
submit to UNESCO a project to transform the Casino de la
who knew from Madrid. In 1941 both took Selva in an International Institute of the Arts. The building was
a 'work of famous Spanish architect Felix Candela that ahead
the Mexican nationality. Since their of the curve, the known hazards hyperbolic parabolic dome.
The demolition, authorized by the Municipal Presidency,
marriage were born four children: started by the U.S. supermarket chain Price costs, continuing
with considerable environmental damage by the Wall-Mart,
Antonia, Teresa, and sister Pilar and even without the permission of Environmental Management. A
massacre aggravated by the destruction of works of art of
painting murals that were inside the complex, signed works by
Manola. Siqueiros, Orozco, Rivera, Silvio Benedetto, Atl, messenger,
Camarena, Renau, Meza, Flores, Ballester, Gonzales, Cueva
During the years 1941 and 1942 Felix Del Rio, Pena, Icaza. An even ecological disaster, one that
involved the "Jardin de l'Art" (another name of the Casino de la
Candela worked in Acapulco, in Selva). The weekly Valencia 'El temps' in an article entitled
"Vandalism in Mexico'" the complaint also killing lots of trees.
partnership with a manufacturer. It then 5
The Rangel brothers were members for only 3 years. Felix
assumed the presidency, while Antonio who was master
3 builder, took care of yards and Julia administration. The
France recognized the Franco government, and then company will operate until 1976, but will leave the Félix
exiles became a problem. Candela in 1969.
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
positive and not the shots anymore. works of the company cubiertas Ala are
A year after he built his own house, a villa worthy of mention, in Mexico: Atzeca
in traditional Mediterranean style, a Stadium, the University Theater Center
Tlacopac, in the south east of Mexico and the Electronic National Autonomous
City. In this regard commented: "I will not University of Mexico, the monumental
chance to show my house a few architect arch of Monterrey, and in the international
,..., all hope that living in a monstrous arena, the Cuban Presidential Palace,
turned with the roof and walls of glass." 12 whose creation was decided before the
In this period Candela built the first fall of Batista, the Auditorium of
prototype paraguas (umbrella). Cartography of Caracas, the Auditorium
Quadrangular coverage consists of four of Maracaibo, the Hemisfair Tower of San
timpani of hypar, supported by a single Antonio, the Crystal Palace in London
central pillar, which found space inside and the sports complex at the University
the pipe rain. Because of its cost- of Rhode Brown Island.
effectiveness and speed of construction They were the years when Félix Candela,
(you could reuse the same housing), this now considered the main designer of
structure had a huge spread and was the times in the world, was a constant
kind of coverage required by most presence in magazines worldwide, and
builders and architects Mexicans, for was invited to give lectures in many
industrial buildings and above all service universities, mainly in the U.S.. His
stations. reports were always an example of
simplicity and they confirmed the
In its 26 years of operation (1950-1976) skepticism of youth compared to the
the company cubiertas Ala performed an complicated calculations of the theory of
impressive number of works: 1439 drew membrane structures. The criticisms
up plans, which were built 896, of which made to the theory that the role of
over 90% were industrial buildings. The practice, created hostilities within the
period of increased activity was between many small circuit of international
1956 and 1960, five of which were built in specialists.
a total of 395 works.13 In July 1961, in London, during the
Among the congress of the
12 International Union
Giral, A. « la arquitectura de Fèlix Candela » in
AA.VV.El desierro espanol en America. Madrid Min. of Architects (UIA)
Cultura.
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Tabla de obras de Cubiertas Ala, Germenon Salum he was awarded
da Juan Tonda Magallón Ediciones Corunda 2000
Mexico DF
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
the prestigious Auguste Perret Prize for were no more conditions (suitable for
the excellence of his work. A month after manod'opera and low so, flexible rules
he was decorated with a gold medal that and creativity) of the gold. And then
the Institution of Engineers structural starts the third period of his life, in which
engineers assigned to the best structural Candela had a profound transformation
engineers in the world (before him: professional and creative led him to
JFBaker in 1052, Eugene Freyssinet abandon his work as designer
1957, Hardy Cross 1958). /manufacturer. Moved to Chicago where
In 1963 his wife died five years later she he was a full-time professor at the
married Candela, the architect U.S. University of Illinois from 1971 to 1978,
Dorothy Davies. when it adopted U.S. citizenship. Do not
The last important work of Felix Candela let all of his creative work, is associated
was the Palazzo dello Sport for the to the study Idea Center in Toronto and
Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968, attended to ambitious projects, including
built in collaboration with Enrique the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid
Castañeda and Antonio Peyre, which (that project was not realized), the City of
replaced the use of shells of concrete, not Sport in Kuwait, the Islamic Cultural
suitable for large lights , With an Center Madrid, a tower of offices in
economic and ingenious semi-metal Riyadh, an airport in Murcia, coverage for
structure, divided into panels that are a stadium Islamic University in Riyadh,
inserted elements shaped paraguas, the Feria de Muestras of Marbella, the
covered with plates of copper. The effect Legislature of Veracruz, the Master Plan
is that of the shell of a large turtle, which of Islamic, the Prosecutor of Xalapa hotel
has become a symbol of the Mexican in Cancun, and ultimately the City of Arts
capital. In 1971, after nearly two decades and Science in Valencia, with space built
teaching at the National Autonomous in the park where Oceanographic
University of Mexico, decided to emigrate
to the U.S., to teach at the University of
Illinois. This influenced the decision, the
misunderstandings with the management
of the Faculty of Architecture, the new
American wife and the decline of his
company cubiertas Ala, a consequence of
the fact that times had changed and there
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
guided by two principles that are and to cover the Auditorium of the
essential in these structures: the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of
static and geometry. Built short the University of Mexico City, which
times, prismatic and is
corrugated sheets, formed
cones, fan, domes, by two
almost the entire range
of forms known. In
Residence Romero,
Candela had the
truncated cones, joined a long
opportunity to do a cover sheet to
common border. The light cone
Sinusoidal15. L'inspirazione The
rising from 9 to 18 meters. The
inspiration came from a photograph
media were inclined an added
at Copenhagen, designed by
feature, compared to the original
Vilhelm Lauritzen. The structure
plan to improve its appearance.
was so obvious that Candela was
Candela such comments, "I
"trying to do something similar."
thought to avoid the problems of
Candela built two more of these
calculation on the rods and cones
structures. Methods of
as giving form of line."
prefabricated steel were used for
This is the only building in which
Escuola Montes Alpes and for a
Candela has worked with cones,
seminar. The first is a two-story
and is also one of the few
structure with light of 8 meters and
instances where he worked as a
sudden changes of 2.5 mt from
consultant only and not as
both sides. The second has four
supervisor.
floors, and in the original intentions
In 1953, he built an elliptical dome
were to be six. Probably this was
to cover with a roof of the
the first time that shells were used
residence hall dance Gallego
as interpiani. But there were a good
Center. The dome is relatively low
solution and Candela came to be
and based on existing walls, but
seen as a "search path without
since the plant's dome does not
hope." 1952 is working with
correspond to the walls, his weight
Guillermo Enrique Yanez Rosel
is transferred to them through a
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The covers that folded prism or the Germans call
"Faltwerke" and the French "toits plissés" follow the complicated system of rays
principle of resistance through the corrugated
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
and breaking the symmetry. The domes daring were built without aid
columns take a distorted form, of differential calculus, but instead
designed intuitively as the loads of it, made use of a great sense of '
that must lead, and there are no balance and sensible view of the
capitals and virtually no game of forces, as very necessary
communication between support for a manufacturer, much more
and coverage, which results in a profound knowledge of discoveries
single item. Even the high tower is of mathematics"
made with hypars. Developers of In an interview at a premium,
the church wanted a traditional Candela said that this was the work
design (in the Gothic style) and not that had given more satisfaction,
suspect that they might get and the question of whether the
something more. It is as if Candela public liked, said, "especially for
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you would see how far you can go women architects like ,..., not. "
with this type of structures. In this Candela in 1955, built by Enrique
respect, the Gothic church is a de la Mora and Fernando Carmona
triangular, with all its vertical López a series of structures. La
emphasis. Given the basic idea of Capilla del Altillo had a
umbrellas and their zigzag edges completely different concept than
through the air, Candela said: that of the church de la Medalla
"Everything in her designs are milagro. Artwork created by this
more or less by himself." The collaboration was the New Stock
preliminary draft was done in an Exchange of Values of Calle de
afternoon, designed in a week and Uruguay in Mexico City, which was
calculated during construction. The built in a coverage of 15 x 26 m
calculations (necessarily extended, and a height of 8.25 m in the
because all surfaces have different center, supported in the four
configuration) revealed an corners which was the first
unexpected push towards the example of an object with the draft.
upper edges of the roof. The This is a particular feature which
comments on this project led to has qualified the work of Candela:
Candela wrote: "Sometimes the the development of the draft.
imposing stone of the Gothic
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cathedrals and Renaissance Ramirez Dampierre in Arquitectura n.30
giugno 1961 Madrid.
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
Another work is characterized in its that allow the passage of light. The
great production, quality and outer perimeter arches are closed
innovative proposal: the building of by large windows which, the
bottling factory Bacardi (1958). For dynamic space, along with ribs and
the building of Bacardi, Candela triangular windows, an amazing
was inspired to form the airport of brightness.
San Luis Minoru Yamasaki of The building of Candela is not far
Missouri. Six large domes of 30 from the project that Mies van der
meters of light and 4 cm thick, Rohe has done in Mexico: the
arranged in pairs to form three place of Bacardy y Cia. Open as
rows, covering an area of more usual Candela, he criticized the
than 5000 square meters. Each large flat recital coverage against
dome is a square and composed nature to the concrete work in that
from two hypar, with the four sides form little logic, and then
by archways delimited parabola estrendere dissent across the
profile inclined to "draft", from rationalist architecture.
which, in parts of fit, vertical In 1961, while he was in London,
triangular sections, sealed glass, the sixth International Congress of
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
Cubiertas Ala
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
With his company Cubiertas Ala. the thin strips of concrete that
were made 1439 projects, of which comply with these shells, do not
896 built. A lot of these buildings comply with the regulations for
was an industrial and well known construction in the more developed
forms of umbrellas, which still can countries. In this regard Candela
be seen in many gas stations and writes:
service of the Federal District "The strict regulations of what can
(Mexico City). You must remember be done, it means virtually
that this type of structure, which impossible groped for new roads,
has a single central column houses to evolve and progress.".18
where the pipe and rain with only a The key to the process of
plinth of Trustees, is one of the construction of the shell was in the
most celebrated contributions to complicated development of
Candela for its lightness, simplicity housing (Cimbrian), made with
and economy, which have been planks of wood panconcello, which
performed many works, in which comply with surface turned, that
the use repetitive allowed to cover gave shape to cover. Above the
thousands of square meters and housing is the armature of small
build industrial buildings without the diameter, to form a lattice above
need for a real project, but through which threw the cement, to a
a simple procedure that ended up thickness of 4 cm. As soon as this
being standardized. had taken detach the housing and
Roofing shaped hyperbolic the shell takes its final form. To do
paraboloid, that marked an era this it needed the participation of
dell'architetura Mexican, could be many people, recruited from
built only in that place and at that migration from the countryside who
precise moment, thanks to the came to town, and that contributed
ability and constructive vision of work men good low cost. When in
space Félix Candela and a few 1964 President Gustavo Diaz
other architects who dominated the Ordaz, promulgated a law that
complex system needed to develop increased the minimum wage, los
constructive and availability of high cascarones ceased to be
labor cheap. Works impossible to convenient and enterprise
achieve in other countries, because
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Look note 17
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
Awards
1961 Gold Medal from Istitution
of engineer Structurist, London.
1961 award Auguste Perret from
International union of Architets.
1961/62 Charles Eliot Norton
professor of Poetry
dell'Università di Harvard
Cambridge/Massachusetts
1981 Gold Medal of the
architectural
1985 Award Antonio Camuñas
of architecture.
architecture. Candela has
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
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Felix Candela Costruttore di sogni
www.giovannardierontini.it
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