Roberto Gottardi
Encyclopedia
Roberto Gottardi is an Cuban
architect. He graduated in architecture from the Instituto Superiore di Architettura di Venezia (Architecture Institute of Venice) in 1952, the same class as Massimo Vignelli
. While there, one of the major influences on his formative style was his mentor Carlo Scarpa
, whose craft approach to architecture refuted the tenets of Rationalist modernism
. Also influential was the school’s iconoclastic director, Giuseppe Samoná
, who like Scarpa, was an important critic of Rationalism.
After his studies in Venice, Gottardi worked in Milan for the firm BBPR under Ernesto Nathan Rogers
. In 1957 he departed for Caracas upon the invitation of a Venezuelan architect whom he had met in Rogers’ office and ended up working with fellow Italian Vittorio Garatti
and Cuban architect Ricardo Porro
in the Banco Obrero project, led by famed architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva
. Following the victory of the Cuban Revolution
, Ricardo Porro invited Gottardi and Garatti to join him in the cause of building a new country. Gottardi arrived in Cuba in December, 1960, and soon began work with Porro and Garatti on the ambitious project of Havana's new National Art Schools
, commissioned by Fidel Castro
. As part of the three-man team who designed the National Art Schools, Gottardi created the School of Dramatic Arts. He was also the only one of the National Art Schools' three primary architects to remain in the country following the mid-1960s.
Following his work on the School of Dramatic Arts (which remained unfinished in the face of political realignments in 1965 that ended work on the National Art Schools), Gottardi worked as a lecturer and professor at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Havana. He also assumed the National Command Post of Agriculture (1967–1971), the Maravilla pizzeria (1967–1968), the set design for Girón
(1981) and Dédalo
(1991) by choreographer Rosario Cárdenas, and the remodeling of the Caracas restaurant-cafeteria (1997–1998). Today he lives, teaches and practices architecture in Havana, and began working with the Cuban National Council of Conservation in 2008 on restoring and finishing the School of Dramatic Arts that had remained incomplete since 1965.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
architect. He graduated in architecture from the Instituto Superiore di Architettura di Venezia (Architecture Institute of Venice) in 1952, the same class as Massimo Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli is a designer who has done work in a number of areas ranging from package design to furniture design to public signage to showroom design through Vignelli Associates, which he co-founded with his wife, Lella...
. While there, one of the major influences on his formative style was his mentor Carlo Scarpa
Carlo Scarpa
Carlo Scarpa , was an Italian architect, influenced by the materials, landscape, and the history of Venetian culture, and Japan. Scarpa was also a glass and furniture designer of note....
, whose craft approach to architecture refuted the tenets of Rationalist modernism
Rationalism (architecture)
The intellectual principles of rationalism are based on architectural theory. Vitruvius had already established in his work De Architectura that architecture is a science that can be comprehended rationally. This formulation was taken up and further developed in the architectural treatises of the...
. Also influential was the school’s iconoclastic director, Giuseppe Samoná
Giuseppe Samonà
Giuseppe Samonà was an Italian architect and urban planner, whose notable works include the post office in the Appio quarter of Rome , the Banca d'Italia in Padua and a theatre in Sciacca, Sicily ....
, who like Scarpa, was an important critic of Rationalism.
After his studies in Venice, Gottardi worked in Milan for the firm BBPR under Ernesto Nathan Rogers
Ernesto Nathan Rogers
Ernesto Nathan Rogers was an Italian architect, writer and educator.-Biography:Born in Trieste, Italy he graduated from the Politecnico di Milano, Italy in 1932...
. In 1957 he departed for Caracas upon the invitation of a Venezuelan architect whom he had met in Rogers’ office and ended up working with fellow Italian Vittorio Garatti
Vittorio Garatti
Vittorio Garatti is an architect. He graduated in architecture in 1957 from the Politecnico di Milano, where Ernesto Nathan Rogers was a major influence. Guido Canella and Gae Aulenti were his classmates...
and Cuban architect Ricardo Porro
Ricardo Porro
Ricardo Porro is a Cuban-born architect . He graduated in architecture from the Universidad de la Habana in 1949, following which he spent two years in post-graduate studies at the Institute of Urbanism at the Sorbonne. By the mid-1950s, his work took on distinctive Organic tendencies...
in the Banco Obrero project, led by famed architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva
Carlos Raúl Villanueva
Carlos Raúl Villanueva was the most prominent Venezuelan architect of the 20th century and one of the great Modernists. He played a major role in the development and modernization of Caracas, Maracay and other cities across the country...
. Following the victory of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
, Ricardo Porro invited Gottardi and Garatti to join him in the cause of building a new country. Gottardi arrived in Cuba in December, 1960, and soon began work with Porro and Garatti on the ambitious project of Havana's new National Art Schools
National Schools of Art, Havana
Cuba's National Art Schools are considered by historians to be one of the most outstanding architectural achievements of the Cuban Revolution...
, commissioned by Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. As part of the three-man team who designed the National Art Schools, Gottardi created the School of Dramatic Arts. He was also the only one of the National Art Schools' three primary architects to remain in the country following the mid-1960s.
Following his work on the School of Dramatic Arts (which remained unfinished in the face of political realignments in 1965 that ended work on the National Art Schools), Gottardi worked as a lecturer and professor at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Havana. He also assumed the National Command Post of Agriculture (1967–1971), the Maravilla pizzeria (1967–1968), the set design for Girón
Giron
Giron is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:...
(1981) and Dédalo
Dédalo
Dédalo was the name of two ships of the Spanish Navy:*The first Dédalo was a seaplane and balloon carrier converted from German merchant vessel Neuenfelds in 1922...
(1991) by choreographer Rosario Cárdenas, and the remodeling of the Caracas restaurant-cafeteria (1997–1998). Today he lives, teaches and practices architecture in Havana, and began working with the Cuban National Council of Conservation in 2008 on restoring and finishing the School of Dramatic Arts that had remained incomplete since 1965.
External links
- Revolution of Forms website, a book about the Porro-designed Cuban National Art SchoolsNational Schools of Art, HavanaCuba's National Art Schools are considered by historians to be one of the most outstanding architectural achievements of the Cuban Revolution...
- Roberto Gottardi's National art school - Paradise lost?, Cuba Absolutely Magazine, February 2008 - retrieved 03-03-11