In Cuba the academy of architecture was founded in 1900 and had its first graduates in 1905. Who then took on the design of the country’s architectural works the previous four centuries? Were there other professionals in charge before and after? Sometimes we look at our built environment and ask ourselves questions like these, the answers to which give visibility to many other actors who also contributed to shaping the architectural wealth of the Island, and consequently deserve fair recognition.
Before Cuba will have professionally trained architects On the Island, the design of the buildings was in charge of the military engineering corps of the colonial Administration, as well as foreign doctors hired by rich families. They were the ones who assumed, in general, the most important jobs, leaving the majority of the residential and minor commercial properties in the hands of experienced bricklayers, known as master builders.
This does not mean that the latter did not work directly on major works. There is the case of Francisco de Calona, a master stonemason who directed the construction of the Royal Force Castle since it was in the foundations (1562-1577), which he even had to correct. From these centuries other names appear such as Pedro Hernández de Santiago, who built the tower of the church of the Convent of Santa Clara (1698) and that of San Francisco de Asís (1719), the tallest in Havana during the entire colonial period.
When considering the fortification of some towns such as Havana and Santiago, Cuba had the early presence of military engineers in charge of the design and maintenance of the fortresses, as well as the strategic urban planning of the cities so that it also favors their defense. They include many of the city plans from those centuries, which contribute so much to reconstructing urban history. At the same time, they undertook important infrastructure works. Especially notable were those of the 19th century in Havana, carried out by military engineers such as Félix Lemaur (sewer and paving system), Francisco de Albear (aqueduct), Manuel Pastor (avenues for the expansion, such as Carlos III), Mariano Carrillo of Albornoz (boardwalks, public lighting, sanitation, etc.).
To this should be added a significant number of constructions of artistic and architectural relevance such as: the Government palaces, the Templete, the old Prison, the missing Teatro Principal, etc. Likewise, they are responsible for the introduction of modern urban planning in Cuba, with fundamental examples such as the El Vedado neighborhood by Luis Iboleón Bosque, and the city of Cienfuegos, by Esteban Famadas.
For their part, the master buildersAlthough they were not many, they were much more than the previous ones and they had a more extensive work, completing with their designs an important part of the cities we inhabit today. They were Spanish emigrants who, like so many others, came to Cuba in search of better opportunities. Once installed, they made use of the construction tradition learned in his homeland and the most important technological advances of the moment. Sometimes they assumed the double role of practitioner and contractor, that is, they were in charge of both the design and direction of the work, as well as its construction.
Their vast practical experience earned them a high level of preparation and guaranteed them great social prestige. The Ordinances of 1861, in force until 1963, granted them the same rights and responsibilities as other higher-ranking specialists. However, there was always a desire to raise their professional level, since the majority were not qualified. For this reason, in 1855, the Special School for Master of Works and Surveyor was created, which functioned as a continuation of the Preparatory School, which incorporated two years of specialty. In 1863, the Secondary Education Institute of Havana was founded, which included the Professional School of Masters of Works, Surveyors and Surveyors, an improved version of the Special School, also developed in two academic years.
This institute disappeared with the School of Architecture of the University of Havana, created in 1900. However, the specialty of master builder continued as a career added to the Faculty of Letters and Sciences until 1933. To enter, one had to present a bachelor’s degree, and then take 17 subjects over five years. Being very similar to the Architecture degree, it was less requested, since it required the same effort and once the student graduated, he was considered of lower category.
However the prestige of the old master builders It remained for a long time despite the new promotions of architects in the country. Which did not stop motivating a certain professional confrontation justified by differences in concept and style, but which had a lot to do with the high level of competitiveness that the master builders imposed on the new architects.
In addition to the countless homes they built, during the Republic they also assumed responsibility for highly recognized public buildings in the country such as the Lonja del Comercio (1909) by José Mata, the Banco Gelats (1910) by Luis Juan Dediot and the headquarters of The Trust Company of Cuba (1913) by Alberto de Castro, in Havana; the Ferrer Palace (1918) by Pablo Donato Carbonell in Cienfuegos; the Teatro Apolo (1909) by Claudio Muns, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1919) and the Hotel Colón (1926) by Jaime Cruanyas, and the Parque Casino Campestre (1924) by Antonio Moya in Camagüey.
These lower professional rank architects marked the first guidelines of modern architecture, by assuming the advanced and introducing new techniques and styles such as art nouveau. We should especially remember the Catalans who, in addition to constituting the majority, bring together an exceptional body of work. With it they introduced the use of the Catalan vault and column, hydraulic mosaic and prefabricated elements of plaster and cement, widely developed in their workshops run in different areas of the country. In this way, they bequeathed to the Cuban cities the skill of their practical experience and encouraged the development of the trade that they transmitted to the Creole apprentices who helped them.
Master builders and military engineers They constituted a specialized force currently quite unknown, but which was fundamental in the architectural flourishing of the Cuban cities where their craft reached. They were in charge of the urban, architectural and industrial development of the first four centuries.and even in the first half of the 20th century, the master builders continued to work in parallel with the new qualified architects.
