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José Grases Riera facts for kids

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José Grases Riera
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José Grases Riera (born April 25, 1850 – died February 12, 1919) was a talented Spanish architect. He was born in Barcelona and became known for designing important buildings and monuments, especially in Madrid.

Grases studied architecture in Barcelona and finished his studies in 1878. Soon after, he moved to Madrid. For many years, he worked on designing homes. He also suggested a big plan to change the layout of the entire city. This plan was called the Proyecto de Gran Vía Norte-Sur. Even though his exact plan wasn't used, it helped shape how Madrid was built later on.

Famous Designs

The Monument to Alfonso XII

In 1902, Grases won a big national contest. He designed the Monument to Alfonso XII of Spain in Madrid's Buen Retiro Park. His design was a grand, curved structure with many columns. On top, there was a large bronze statue of King Alfonso XII riding a horse. This statue was made by sculptor Mariano Benlliure. Many other artists also helped create parts of this monument. It was officially opened on July 3, 1922, a few years after Grases passed away.

The Palacio Longoria

Grases also designed the Palacio Longoria in 1903. This building is a great example of Art Nouveau style in Madrid. It was built for a financier named Javier González Longoria. People often say its outside looks like it was sculpted from cake frosting! Some people thought Grases was influenced by another famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. However, there is no clear proof of this.

Other Important Works

In Madrid, Grases designed other notable buildings. One was the Palacio de la Equitativa, built between 1887 and 1891 for an insurance company. It has a fancy tower and sculpted elephant heads. He also designed the 1901 monument to Antonio Cánovas del Castillo. This monument is in the Plaza de la Marina Española and was made with sculptor Joaquín Bilbao.

Images for kids

  • Monumento a Alfonso XII de España en los Jardines del Retiro - 04

    Monument to Alfonso XII of Spain, El Retiro, Madrid

  • Palacio Longoria (Madrid) 10

    Palacio Longoria, 1903


See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: José Grases Riera para niños

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