Alejandro Chataing
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Chataing was an important Venezuelan architect
. Chataing was known as the "great constructor of the regime of Cipriano Castro." He was a prolific architect who helped give Caracas a new face.
, with tendencies that included neo-renaissance
, neo-romanesque, morisco
and neo-baroque
. At the same time, next to the traditional Venezuelan rubblework, he used concrete
foundations, as well as iron joists in the intrafloor space, a method characteristic of the transitional period between the 19th and 20th centuries.
.
in el Paraíso
, called Villa Zoila. A year later he modified the structure and the facade of the Military School of la Planicie, with a project imitating the strength of "florentino military style." Between 1904 and 1905, he constructed the National theater, which president Cipriano Castro wished to have emulate the works of Antonio Guzmán Blanco
. In 1905 he designed the House of Baths in El Valle
and modified the School of Arts and offices.
patients for the island of La Providencia (at the entrance of Lake Maracaibo
) and of an Arch of the Restoration that would not be completed.
in 1921. Also with Luis Muñoz Tébar, he finished the church of Heart of Jesus in Caracas, the temple of Saint Augustus of the South and the church of the servants of the Santísimo Sacramento. In addition to the construction of religious buildings, he took on the project of designing the theaters Ayacucho, Capitol, Princess (today, Rialto cinema in front of Bolivar plaza), the First National City Bank (on the corner of Society) and the Bank of Venezuela on University Avenue. He constructed the Acacias residence of the Boulton family (today, host of the Command of the National Guard) and conceived the design of the Miramar hotel in Macuto, a project that brought him recognition in 1928.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. Chataing was known as the "great constructor of the regime of Cipriano Castro." He was a prolific architect who helped give Caracas a new face.
Introduction
In general, his projects demonstrated a remarkable eclecticismEclecticism
Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases.It can sometimes seem inelegant or...
, with tendencies that included neo-renaissance
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
, neo-romanesque, morisco
Morisco
Moriscos or Mouriscos , meaning "Moorish", were the converted Christian inhabitants of Spain and Portugal of Muslim heritage. Over time the term was used in a pejorative sense applied to those nominal Catholics who were suspected of secretly practicing Islam.-Demographics:By the beginning of the...
and neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
. At the same time, next to the traditional Venezuelan rubblework, he used concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
foundations, as well as iron joists in the intrafloor space, a method characteristic of the transitional period between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Early years
His career began when he received first prize in a contest for the facades of the San Jacinto Caracas town market in 1894. In 1895 he collaborated with his teacher Juan Hurtado Manrique in the design of the Arch of the Federation on the slopes of El CalvarioEl Calvario
El Calvario is a town and municipality in the Meta Department, Colombia. It was the epicenter of the 2008 Colombia earthquake....
.
Projects of 1904 and 1905
In 1904, he rebuilt the National Pantheon and constructed the presidential residence of Cipriano CastroCipriano Castro
José Cipriano Castro Ruiz was a high ranking member of the Venezuelan military, politician and the President of Venezuela from 1899 to 1908...
in el Paraíso
El Paraíso
El Paraíso is a municipality in the Honduran department of El Paraíso. The capital is Yuscaran.The town is the site of a cigar factory operated by Nestor Plasencia, in which cigars are made under a variety of labels, including that of Rocky Patel....
, called Villa Zoila. A year later he modified the structure and the facade of the Military School of la Planicie, with a project imitating the strength of "florentino military style." Between 1904 and 1905, he constructed the National theater, which president Cipriano Castro wished to have emulate the works of Antonio Guzmán Blanco
Antonio Guzmán Blanco
Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco was President of Venezuela for three separate terms, from 1870–1877, from 1879–1884, and from 1886–1887....
. In 1905 he designed the House of Baths in El Valle
El Valle
El Valle is a town in the Hato Mayor province of the Dominican Republic.- References :** Main street name: Maria Trinidad Sanchez.** Rivers names : El Sano,Jaguera and Janigua....
and modified the School of Arts and offices.
Projects of 1906
In 1906, he took on the project of the construction of a hospital for leprosyLeprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
patients for the island of La Providencia (at the entrance of Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo is a large brackish bay in Venezuela at . It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by Tablazo Strait at the northern end, and fed by numerous rivers, the largest being the Catatumbo. It is commonly considered a lake rather than a bay or lagoon, and at 13,210 km² it would be the...
) and of an Arch of the Restoration that would not be completed.
Projects of 1907
In 1907, he completed the palace of the Department of the Interior with the annexed police ward and constructed the building of the Ministry of Housing on the corner of Carmelitas.Other architectural works
Other architectural works made by Chataing were the National Library (or Bolivian Museum) in Bolivar plaza in 1910, the General Archives of the Nation in 1912, the New Circus in 1919 in collaboration with Luis Muñoz Tébar, and the Arch of Carabobo inaugurated by Juan Vicente GómezJuan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón was a military general and de facto ruler of Venezuela from 1908 until his death in 1935. He was president on three occasions during this time, and ruled as an unelected military strongman for the rest of the era.-Early years:Gómez was a barely literate cattle herder and...
in 1921. Also with Luis Muñoz Tébar, he finished the church of Heart of Jesus in Caracas, the temple of Saint Augustus of the South and the church of the servants of the Santísimo Sacramento. In addition to the construction of religious buildings, he took on the project of designing the theaters Ayacucho, Capitol, Princess (today, Rialto cinema in front of Bolivar plaza), the First National City Bank (on the corner of Society) and the Bank of Venezuela on University Avenue. He constructed the Acacias residence of the Boulton family (today, host of the Command of the National Guard) and conceived the design of the Miramar hotel in Macuto, a project that brought him recognition in 1928.