Frame and Form

As advocates Salvador Tarrago,I present today was possibly the best teacher of history work.Rafael Guastavino (1842, Valencia, Spain - 1908, Baltimore, United States)builder between the end of s. XIX and early s. XX had a great influence in the U.S. as an importer and developer Volta Catalana.

Valencian origin emigrated to Barcelona in 1861 to train as Master of Works where he learned the secrets of Catalan vault, centuries-old technique that he developed and perfected throughout his professional life, to the point of export and patent their secrets in the United States where he built more than 1000 buildings based on this technique of structural architecture.

Guastavino. Volta Catalana

As we discussed in a previous article, Once the Catalan, tabicada dome dome Cohesa, is a structural building system, comprising recessed arches flat ceramic. These are joined with plaster to create the first layer, gypsum ‘grabs’ so rapidly that no formwork is required to close the first row of the vault. Once the first layer is completed arch successive courses are placed mortar that gives the necessary strength.

Queensborough Bridgemarket, New York (wikipedia)

Guastavino began his career as a builder in the year 1866, the most emblematic work in which he participated in his first stage was the factory "Can Batlló"Now occupied by the industrial engineering faculty Barcelona. He soon decided to try in the United States, where he founded the firm Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company in year 1888. Guastavino realized that the construction volta catalana had a large market in the United States. After the great fires of New York (1835) and Chicago (1871), American society was very sensitive about, especially with regard to the safety of large public buildings. Guastavino was clear and promoted the art of building structures by Catalan volta a fire-proof building, to demonstrate the quality of the patent held several demonstrations which set fire to its buildings. Many architects of the period saw the advantages which comprised the Catalan vault, either in the fire safety aspects and economics of construction or quality of finishes and shapes. Naturally, extending the technique succeeds the American East Coast.

City Hall subway station. New York City

Among the most important buildings constructed Guastavino we can find Boston Public Library, or Grand Central Station, the Carnegie Hall, Cathedral Saint John the Divine or church St. Bartholomew, all key pieces of architecture in New York.

in year 1908 Rafael Guastavino died and his son took over the company until 1962, when it finally closes down. The legacy left Guastavino is of paramount importance and is part of the history of the building, especially in America where his mark is still present in hundreds of landmark buildings.

Meta-Information:

Web dedicated to the life and work of the Master Builder

Site on the monographic exhibition in Alicante, Spain

References:

Catalan Architecture

Heritage of Barcelona

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* Original article Construcloud edited and translated by Sergio Carratalá for Frame and Form.