It is obvious that the Spanish architects of the fifties had an in-depth and more or less direct knowledge of the writings and works of modern avant-garde leaders throughout Europe and the United States. In any case students from this and the following two decades largely experienced this impact through publications which arrived from Latin America.

However, it would be ingenuous to believe that the Latin American influence on Spanish architecture of the period is subject to the limits of the printed word. Not only did the poverty of fifties Spanish society find part of its salvation in the intensive help it received from some of its old colonies; in addition, Spanish architects found models and working guidelines in their architecture, amongst other things, architecture which was both “familiar” and highly attractive, offering a revised and more up close version of European and North American modernity. Such a natural influence was favoured by the propaganda opposing Franco’s regime. This propaganda extolling and disseminating the cultural contribution of the exiles´ work also attracted Spanish professionals’ attention to Latin American architecture of the time as a whole. Some famous works by Moreno Barberá, Gustavo Gili, Pfeiffer amongst others are not simply a small sign of their scope but support the inarguable levels of ambition and brilliance. Knowledge of this intense and passionate meeting of minds is still largely pending.

Yet a detailed study cannot be deferred. It is a further ingredient in our recent history, the analysis of which is without a doubt indispensable in shaping the immediate future.

PANELS
A. The Latinamerican influences.
B. The Spanish architecture and architects in the exile.
C. The role of the Latinamerican editorials.

CALENDAR