Ayuntamiento de Aracena

Biography of Anibal Gonzalez Alvarez-Ossorio
Spanish architect born in Seville. He was primarily a regionalist, but was also based on styles of the past, combining them in some buildings and trying to create a style from Seville, in his first season was a combination of Gothic, Renaissance and Mudejar, called Historism regionalism. Anibal Gonzalez was aware that its construction should be essentially regionalists, using traditional materials adapted to their age, such as brick, and the entire portfolio purely Sevillan, plaster, tile and wrought iron. He was vice president of Ateneo de Sevilla and chief architect of the work of preparing for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville, but failed to fulfill its mandate and resigned in 1926. Among its buildings are the pavilion of the Association of Charity Sevillana, a street corner Arjona, the chapel and the house of Carmen de Luca de Tena on the Paseo de la Palmera. However, all works are minor in comparison with the buildings that comprise the Plaza de America: Mudéjar Hall, the Royal Pavilion and the Archaeological Museum. But above all is known for his greatest work, the Plaza de España. This place built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, is one of the most spectacular of the contemporary Spanish architecture. It has a semicircular (200 meters in diameter) and symbolizes the embrace of Spain and its former colonies facing the river as a way to go to America. It is bordered by a canal crossed by four bridges that represent the four ancient kingdoms of Spain. On the walls built a portfolio of banks and blue ornaments spaces that are alluding to the forty-eight Spanish provinces. Anibal Gonzalez's work in Seville enjoys an enormous popularity and have made the name of the architect is definitely tied to the city itself.

Also highlights the legacy of his work which he left in Aracena although less known than the previous no minor architectural.

Anibal Gonzalez Path
The works of this author Aracena reflected in the evolution of his style throughout his career. Aracena documented works from 1910 to 1926, with its monumental legacy of our town concerning the traveler.

We began to enjoy its sights on the outskirts of Aracena, specifically in the neighborhood of Aracenilla Alajar on the road about a kilometer away from our village.

Quarter Aracenilla
Project began its construction in 1923 as a promoter of HE works. Mr Francisco Javier Sanchez-Dalp Calonge, first Marqués de Aracena. The project is carried out in several houses (a total of eight) offered to lease passenger. Is being carried out at different stages of completion on a record 1926.

In the original draft, there are several small parcels conditioned by a single road, 20 m. wide, flanked by rows of trees, which links the various sites with a tour that starts on the road and that is turning into a right angle brackets, resulting in small circular plazas in each bankruptcy, leading to an oval plaza which is targeted by a church. From the third seat covers an area of gardens with a radial layout around it and then curved lines inspired plant.

Uses for its various colors and materials, with priority to make each of the design houses a unique and original. However, it is true to its traditional materials wisely combined. In three of the stone buildings, combined with brick, stone and plaster in one of them, and other stone, brick and plaster. For the decoration of them opted for the ceramic (in Soleri, tiles, auctions of various designs, paintings and other embellishments), wood (staircases, and coffered portajes), iron (building fences, spikes, railings and gates) and Brick (moldings various executioners, corners and geometric elements of the facades). The covers are resolved in two or four water-based wood frames covered with tiles, which in turn are coated ceramic glazed.

In the same way there are several elements that refer to it awarded the regional styles: Baroque some winks auction in evocations Mudejar brick moldings, appointments on the pillars of conventional memory of Ionic and Doric portico and Doric and Ionic pilasters articulating facades .

The traditional elements are reflected in the local roofing and the provision of service areas in each of the chalets.

All the buildings are inhabited, and as a result, in perfect condition. Its owners were acquired several years ago, and started rescuing them from a process of degradation, and almost all of them have suffered some remodeling inside.

Once we entered Aracena on the same road we are on St. Peter's Square where we found another of its famous monuments: the Public Laundry.

Public Laundry
  HE funded monument. D. Francisco Javier Sanchez-Dalp and Calonge and his wife Mrs. Ana Marañon Lavín, Marquis de Aracena, and donated to the town of Aracena February 16, 1927

The dating of the project and the start of the works are in 1921, its opening in 1926.

The technical foundation of the batteries of the building had already been resolved by the tradition which is the challenge faced in this case the author was not too big. The building still is necessary to sustain the structure. The unequal treatment of the floor area between the cover and discovered, and the construction of a wall open outline the perimeter of the whole block without help to strengthen the sense of spatial ambiguity. The project with three hits, two long staircases divided to two sections, arranged in the same side but in the opposite direction provided the income from the highest. The third entrance is at the lower end of the assembly, which in reality is just a rough cut, almost one of those spontaneous lower angles.

Observed in this case a downward trend ornamental. Only with a colorful ceramic box supported by a brick facade with triangular auction. However remain constant mix-brick and stone serve through armor protected by wooden roof four waters.

The building has lost its original function and is shown as a tourist attraction.

Since the status of public utility room that overlooks the street leads directly to the Cave of Wonders, a natural monument and tourist destination in the area, where Anibal Gonzalez planned further appeal to the realization of the building reception.

Prelude to the Cave of the "Wonders"
Work funded by D. Francisco Javier Sanchez-Dalp Calonge and the then Mayor of Aracena D. Juan del Cid Lopez. Including the task, various development works of the newly discovered cave, including the design of the entrance building, commissioning it gives Anibal Gonzalez in 1922 and culminating in 1923.

Work consists of three stays: a reception room in the center, flanked by the porter's lodge and a side staircase down to the Grotto at the other. Outside a stone facade with a high Pretil to conceal the roof deck.

The interior is fully upholstered with stone instead of two spaces stony stripped of all ornamentation and crowned by the gentle curves of two half-barrel vaults. Rustic side seats for the visitor and an original stone in the pavement.

Later, the facade is suffering from drastic changes to a project inspired classics as we know it today. In general, today the building is in good state of preservation, having suffered minor interventions, such as the addition of a curved stone countertop in the central chamber.

The tour continues up the Avenida de Aracena Huelva, leaving aside the place of the Cave of Wonders, which links to the street where there are Blas Infante the rear of another revered as majestic project architect: the City of Aracena. Its main facade stood in the Plaza Marquesa de Aracena. 

Council of Aracena 
  Works dating from 1910-1911.

In 1911 the brothers donated the Sanchez-Dalp andalusia Municipality of Aracena, the fact remains constant in a marble plaque that still remains near the main entrance of the building. A house of 385 m2 to be aimed at schools, municipalities, courts and Telegraph Office at first, but later changed its use as needed.

The building is free from plant triangular standard that is deployed in three main floors, a basement level and an attic.

His contemplation direct us with a building Mudéjar appearance, with discordant neomudéjares works erected to date in Seville by the same author.

Used for building stone and brick. The pottery has been constrained to the small blue box that flanks one of the entrances to the arms of the town. Iron balconies and openings just below highlights the general fund of the facade.

Use slightly arched lintels and framed by the traditional moldings brick dust and simple, sometimes as a pediment crown. Discrete pointed arches chairing two of the facades on the upper floor and a row of arches triangular openings brings the pace as he is open.

The geometric size of the brick assumes the exclusive role of the decorative facade. His work reflects the frame of windows and enrichment of moldings and small pieces of wall. In the three facades of the building boasts an estimated provision symmetrical.

Another is given by the peculiarities of their character building exempt. Located at the crossroads of three streets in an unusual triangle, which enhances their perception from afar and you can hit powerfully in space.

In this case does not give differential treatment to the corners, a tight corner is a discreet welcome the corner chaired the meeting in the streets and Marquise de Aracena Blas Infante. And the third of the unions does not even singled. Here has been chosen to favor the center of the main facade highlighting the presence of a lookout.

It is worth noting the limited presence of the craftsmanship in the interior of the building, visible only in the simple carpentry of wood, iron railing of the stairs and a tiled plinth basin edge and that is the lobby and the central area .

The roofing system is the usual construction serranas: wooden frame and crowned with red tile Arabic, but the use of Excel as a component that protects montera while supplies of light inside the building.

The building has been restored and reflects virtually the elements of the original. Is still in full use of new City Council seat Aracena.

When crossing the Place de Aracena Marquesa reach street barbers at the end of it, to turn right, reached the main square of the town: Plaza Marqués de Aracena. There we find the same chair with the Casino de Arias Montano, another legacy of the people Anibal Gonzalez.

Casino "Arias Montano"
  Work commissioned by the Society andalusia Architect "Arias Montano."

A weighted geometric design chairs with a full set depurative style. Highlights of the facade the precise symmetrical composition with the central hub in the corner, the rich set of horizontal and vertical lines that mark the rhythm of a power grid with the stylish design of garlands that shapes the iron railings and lampposts, the Closing grid iron and glass or glass timber and the openings on top of the prominent pillars of the cross and cross antepechos or widespread decorativa containment. The interior staircase is also subject to the rule of geometry, an excellent combination of wrought iron, glass and wood-based curves and straight lines.

Besides the facade appears full of classic elements: pediments, square openings, medium hub, Ionic columns, garlands, a medallion with the effigy of Arias Montano, list them with eggs and decorated dentellones, pilasters and other classical components of the cast.

The floor is a straight line with a symmetrical distribution and almost identical in its three floors.

The rigid linearity of the rebel side is damped by the action of unifying the voluminous curve, transplanted in the original construction to the deck by an elliptical vault and floor, according to oral tradition, ceramic coating. Today, the cover is resolved with a three wood frame waters.

Today the building continues in full and perfect use, thanks to a recent rehabilitation in 1992, carried out by architect Hilario Vazquez Vazquez.

Besides monuments and comentados are attributed to the author also works in Aracena. One is at the center of the city and close to Casino de Arias Montano as the apartment of Jose Nogales No. 2. And one of the most beautiful, the whole San Miguel del Monte, near the village in the direction of Sevilla.

Set San Miguel del Monte
In the 87 km of National Highway 433. Accessed by a dirt road that leads to the Finca San Miguel del Monte.

Work that is dated in 1910 as evidenced by the ceramic plate located in the chapel service that accompanies the set.

Two sets architectural lordly residence and service buildings. Two groups of buildings arranged in a single open space with which Anibal Gonzalez sets out categorically the social chasm that separates users from each sector.

The main residence is the most carefully prepared and the whole project. Unfolds in three heights, including a first-level basement and two floors of a different extension. The ground floor comprises spacious halls and long and narrow corridors leading to different rooms.

Remains the same game disjunctive materials, but have disappeared rigid symmetrical composition and size of geometric brick as one element of decoration. The openings are complicated designs Islamic evocations compounds (horseshoe, horseshoe pointed, lobed, Peralta ...) and use of pottery making his tone of color in the timpani, enjutas and tiles, with harmonic compositions plants, animals , heraldic and geometric.

No work is highlighted in the main entrance. The facade of the chapel early in the far northwest and triple cover that fits the south facade, however, earned a more distinguished. It used to brick, towels sebka, auctions and staggered ceramic reasons.

There is also the set inside the chapel. Rich hues of a novel combination consisting of elements from different sources and inspiration: a Baroque altarpiece chaired by the image of San Miguel, with a certain air armor gothic, and a ceramic work of olambrillas in the flooring and baseboards.

But one of the most striking of all is the picturesque gardens that surround the main dwelling. Rationalized by extensive track walks, avenues and pergolas, and the suggestive placement of items such as jets, fountains and a swimming pool, banks factory, pots and vases.

For its part, the area comprises a helpful ELONGATED two plant heights. The walls are not stone but are limed, the stone is intended to list them selvedging, fireplaces and upholstery take the body of the interim pigeon. The pottery is also limited to cut tiles and cover shots, tiled tables, and list them circles. The cover is resolved with an English degree descent.

Beyond this core extends various constructions dedicated to the exploitation of the estate: the stables and the call home Bejines. Is only recording the authorship of Anibal Gonzalez in the last case. Building construction are simple people.

The complex is in perfect condition and that conservation is being used as private residence. Public views are not allowed.