Architectural theory anthologies from a Spanish perspective

Abstract

The article analyses contemporary anthologies and related texts (Ockman, Hays, Mallgrave, the SAGE Handbook ...) from a Spanish architecture and architectural criticism point of view; and identifies affinities, 'absences' and topics of interest that would complement them. It verifies the little presence of Spanish texts and the few references to internationally recognized Spanish architects or architecture; and it examines if by extrapolating its contents what those anthologies expose allows the second half of S. XX Spanish architecture to be explained or framed in its possible belonging to universal and local tendencies. As instances of the ‘absences’: some examples. The Spanish architecture of the 50-60s, that exhibited a genuine and original hybridization between rationalism and organicism (ex. Coderch and Fisac) and the production of the 80s, coined by Antón Capitel as Eclectic Rationalism (ex. Rafael Moneo, followed by Cruz y Ortiz, Ruiz Cabrero, Bonell, etc.) - two of the Spanish architectural episodes of greatest interest and impact- neither find adequate presence nor fit in the ‘american’ anthologies schemes. The presence of Oíza is null, despite his work being one of those that could best be understood when confronted with what they expose (apart from Torres Blancas, too complex to fit into trends). Moneo’s work is not sufficiently explained, perhaps because although the authors recognize it 'it is sometimes difficult to give an overarching definition of Moneo's work, […] thoroughly conditioned by the network of particularities' [Mallgrave]… There are others. By way of conclusions the article aims at: explaining Spanish scarce presence (authors, architectures) in those anthologies; looking into them for theoretical-critical keys that would explain, by extrapolation, Spanish architecture in the period mentioned; and pointing out the need and the criteria for the hypothetical incorporation of texts with the purpose of better comprehending the most relevant Spanish architecture of that period.