Pedro Benoit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Benoit
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| Born | February 18, 1836 |
| Died | April 4, 1897 (aged 61) |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Occupation | Engineer and urban planner |
| Known for | Master plan for the city of La Plata |
Pedro Benoit (born February 18, 1836 – died April 4, 1897) was an important Argentine architect, engineer, and city planner. He is most famous for designing the layout of La Plata City in Argentina.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Pedro Benoit was born in Buenos Aires in 1836. His father, Pierre Benoît, was a French architect, engineer, and mapmaker. He taught young Pedro a lot about these subjects.
In 1850, Pedro started studying at the Topography and Geodesics School. This school was part of the Engineering Department in Buenos Aires.
First Projects and City Planning
Benoit's first job was designing special floating bridges for the Argentine Army. Later, he worked as a surveyor for Buenos Aires. In 1858, he planned the first road to Ensenada, a harbor town.
In 1859, a landowner named Juan Dillon asked Benoit to design a new city. This city became Merlo, a suburb near Buenos Aires. Benoit designed Merlo with a similar style to how Pierre L'Enfant designed Washington, DC.
Benoit moved to Merlo and designed its first school. He also designed the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in 1863. This church is still the main Catholic church in the city today.
More Engineering Work
Pedro Benoit continued working as the Director of the Topography Department. He planned how to fix the Riachuelo River, which often flooded Buenos Aires.
In 1867, he joined Merlo's Public Health Committee. There, he designed the Santa Isabel Cemetery. He also planned a tram line between Ensenada and Tolosa.
In 1872, another landowner asked Benoit to design the plan for a new city called Ituzaingó. Around 1880, Benoit helped design new defensive walls for what would become Puerto Madero. Because of all his work, he was made a Lieutenant Colonel in the Argentine Corps of Engineers.
Designing La Plata City
In 1880, the city of Buenos Aires became the capital of Argentina. This meant the Province of Buenos Aires needed a new capital city.
In 1881, Dardo Rocha became the governor of the province. He decided to create a new capital city. Governor Rocha asked Pedro Benoit to plan this new city. This became Benoit's most important project.
La Plata's Unique Design
The new city was named La Plata. Benoit designed it with a special pattern of diagonal streets and many perfectly placed squares. He used ideas from Buenos Aires in his plan, like the diagonal streets and small squares.
Some people believe the way Benoit placed the cemetery at the end of a road that starts at the river has a special meaning. It could symbolize life starting in water and ending in the east.
As the main designer, Benoit also planned many of the first public buildings in La Plata. His designs included:
- The La Plata Astronomical Observatory
- The Economy Ministry
- The Police Headquarters
- The Engineering Department
- The Governors' Offices
These buildings were finished soon after the city was officially opened on November 19, 1882.
Benoit also designed the Church of Saint Pontian, the city's first church. In 1884, he worked with Ernesto Meyer to design the Cathedral of La Plata. This huge Gothic-style cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It was finally finished in 1999. He also designed La Plata Cemetery, which opened in 1886.
Benoit also created master plans for other important cities in Buenos Aires Province, such as Quilmes, San Pedro, and Mercedes.
Later Years and Legacy
Benoit's plan for La Plata was very successful. It won two gold medals at the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition. There, it was called the "City of the Future."
In 1890, Benoit was elected to the La Plata City Council. During this time, he designed the city's official seal. In 1893, he became the Mayor of La Plata.
He also took on other important roles. He became the Director of the Provincial Mortgage Bank. In 1897, he became the first Dean of the School of Engineering at the new University of La Plata.
All this hard work was too much for Benoit. He passed away suddenly in 1897 at the age of 61. He is buried in La Recoleta Cemetery.
See also
- In Spanish: Pedro Benoit para niños
