In the same way that Antoni Gaudí was the reference of Modernism or Reinaxança, in Barcelona at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the greatest exponent of modernist architecture in Madrid, is occupied by the immeasurable figure and genius of a universal architect: Antonio Palacios.
Antonio Palacios -born in Porriño, on January 8, 1874 and died in El Plantío, on October 27, 1945- owes the city of Madrid a large part of this fantasy architecture, which located in the most central places and therefore, strategic of the city, it causes so much admiration among the tourists who continually visit us and they have such a predilection for taking selfies, choosing it as the best setting to have an unforgettable memory of a city that always looks to the future, but without ever forgetting its cultural heritage of the past.
To such an extent that a century later, in these crucial moments of a 21st century -which looks greedily at the colonization of the nearby universe, with the potential of new technologies- returns, in the case of our city, to look with nostalgia at its designs from the past, in an attempt to recover lost originality, in the same way, perhaps, that there was a time when earlier architectural styles began to be recovered, such as Gothic and Romanesque, a source from which numerous architects drank throughout his career.
Although his work is great, in the case of Antonio Palacios, it could be said that he was not only an architect of designs for wealthy minorities, as might be assumed at first glance, but also a designer who alternated his genius and knowledge towards elegant functionality. popular, to which he also infused his personal and futuristic touch, not without grandeur and originality.
Part of that originality, referring to the old designs of the popular Madrid Metro stations -and even of not a few service stations or gas stations- are currently being reviewed and recovered, a detail that reminds, obviously and comparatively speaking, ' the myth of the eternal return', referred to by the Romanian hermeneut, Mircea Eliade, applied to Architecture.
The most obvious example is the recent recovery of the Gran Vía Metro station, as well as the current projects to modify the popular Puerta del Sol, replacing the current design that gives access to the RENFE (National Railway Network) facilities. Spaniards) and known, due to its shape, as 'the whale', due to the old canopy design by Antonio Palacios.
Regardless of the fact that in the future we will be able to appreciate some of the most important buildings of this immeasurable architect, a note of genuine picturesqueness is still appreciated, observing, against the backdrop of part of his formidable architecture, the development of activities and careers popular, which once again refer the viewer to that eternal Madrid, where, as that great architect of Prose and Verse, Jorge Luis Borges, would say, Yesterday is Still and also Still.
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NOTICE: Both the text, as well as the photographs that accompany it, as well as the video that illustrates it, are my exclusive intellectual property and, therefore, are subject to my Copyright.
wow amazing to city i live in indonesian bro
Thanks for your comment. You will surely make great contributions here, showing us the wonders of Indonesia. Best regards.
Unas tomas increíbles de la ciudad y su arquitectura, pero además me gusta el momento de las personas en la competencia en medio de estas estructuras.
Saludos querido amigo.
Me alegra que todo esté bien.
Ahora, después de los últimos años y los desastrosos efectos de la pandemia, las cosas van mejorando, o así lo parece y es un buen momento para apreciar lo que se tiene y sobre todo, para disfrutar de una gran ciudad, como es Madrid, mi ciudad, aunque sea con este tipo de actividades, generalmente tendentes a la solidaridad. Muchas gracias por tu comentario y un cordial saludo.
Now, after the last few years and the disastrous effects of the pandemic, things are improving, or so it seems, and it is a good time to appreciate what you have and, above all, to enjoy a great city, such as Madrid, my city, even if it is with this type of activity, generally aimed at solidarity. Thank you very much for your comment and best regards.
Thanks for telling us more about the architect. Is been awhile since I last visited Madrid but I can remember the building in the photographs. It’s so distinctive. Now I know more about it. Really interesting!
Thank you very much for your comment. Surely, during your visit to Madrid, you would know many of the most important buildings of this architect, which caught your attention, even without knowing it, because they are usually located in the Center and are the most important in the capital. Thank you very much again and best regards.
I can remember them yes and they were all beautiful buildings. I want to go back to the city at some point.
You will be welcome. Greetings
Dear @juancar347. This publication has not been posted directly to the Architecture+Design Community. Is it possible to delete this content and republish the same in the said community?
I think I have put it within the Community, although I don't know what could have happened, because first thing in the morning I had a connection problem. Honestly, I wouldn't know how to fix it, and since it's been posted for a while now, I think it's better to leave it as it is. Later I hope to continue publishing in this Community, as I have always been doing. Sorry for the mistake and thank you for the notice.
Okay no worries. Thank you.
Thank you for your understanding.