This exhibition delves into the life and work of Ignacio de Cárdenas, the architect behind Spain's first skyscraper, the Telefónica building. It explores his contributions to early 20th-century Spanish architecture and his role in developing iconic structures.
The exhibition "Ignacio de Cárdenas, un arquitecto pionero" focuses on the remarkable career of Ignacio de Cárdenas Pastor, the visionary architect responsible for designing Spain's first skyscraper, the Telefónica building in Madrid. The page highlights the historical significance of this structure, which was once the tallest building in Europe, and Cárdenas's crucial role in its conception, construction, and preservation.
Drawing from Cárdenas's own "Apuntes para mis memorias," the exhibition presents a selection of family photographs, personal artifacts, drawing notebooks, and archival materials from Telefónica's documentation center. It contextualizes Cárdenas's work within the turbulent socio-political landscape of Spain in the early 20th century, from the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera to the Spanish Civil War. The narrative details his journey from architecture student to lead architect for Telefónica, his collaboration with Sosthenes Behn, and the challenges he faced, including his time in exile after the war and his subsequent professional career. The exhibition also touches upon the building's resilience during the Civil War and its later expansion based on Cárdenas's original designs, underscoring his lasting legacy.
