THE BEGINNINGS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE IN SPAIN: FRANCISCO URCOLA AND THREE REMARKABLE BUILDINGS

Abstract

The origins of reinforced concrete en Spain were based on the system of patents, coming from countries o our environment, mainly European. The first patent to be approved was that of the French Joseph Monier in 1884. These documents defined generic schemes of metallic reinforcements, which architects, engineers and builders adapted to their works based on their experience. In this environment the figure of Francisco Urcola Lazcanotegui, a poorly known Donostia architect, although he projected some very important buildings of thoseyears, such as the Hotel Maria Cristina and the Teatro Victoria Eugenia de San Sebastian. This article focuses on entertainment buildings, given their special commitment to the occasional occupation of large numbers of spectators, which subjects structures to stress states higher than those of conventional buildings, such as housing. In Urcola's work, besides the aforementioned theater, the monumental bullrings of Seville and Pamplona are two important buildings. Keywords: concrete, Urcola, San Sebastián, Sevilla, Pamplona