Secundino Zuazo facts for kids

Secundino Zuazo Ugalde (born 1887, died 1971) was a famous Spanish architect and city planner. He was born in Bilbao and later moved to Madrid. He studied architecture there and lived in the city for the rest of his life.

Secundino Zuazo was known for his "rationalist" style of architecture. This means his designs focused on being practical and simple. He is considered one of the most important architects of his time in Spain. Two of his most famous buildings are the Casa de las Flores and the Nuevos Ministerios in Madrid. He also made important plans for how the city of Madrid should grow.

When he was younger, Secundino liked more traditional building styles. But after traveling to places like the Netherlands, he became interested in simpler, more functional designs. He wanted buildings to be useful and healthy for people. When he came back to Spain, he focused on designing homes for many families. He aimed to make these homes cleaner and better for living.

During a time called the Second Spanish Republic, Secundino became a very important city planner for the government. This was a very busy and successful time for him. However, when the Civil War started, he had to leave Spain and go to France. When he returned, he was even put in prison for a while.

Designing the Nuevos Ministerios

Before the Civil War, a government minister asked Secundino to design a large building complex. This complex would hold many government offices, called ministries. The chosen spot was an old racetrack that had been torn down.

In 1933, Secundino created a design with a big open space in the middle. Around this space, there would be plazas and even small ponds. But the war stopped the building work. After Secundino left Spain, other architects finished the building. They changed some of his original plans.

Some people thought that Zuazo designed the building's layout to look like a hammer and sickle. This was a symbol of the Soviet Union, and some believed he supported them. The architects who finished the building later did not seem to notice this.

The House of Flowers

Between 1930 and 1932, Secundino worked on another well-known building called The House of Flowers. This building was an apartment complex in the Argüelles area of Madrid.

Before Secundino's design, many apartment buildings in Madrid were very fancy on the outside. They often had too many decorations and ornate towers. Inside, however, they were not very practical. Rooms were often narrow, and not much light could get in. These buildings were mostly just big rectangular blocks.

Secundino changed this with The House of Flowers. His apartments had their own bathrooms. His design allowed lots of natural light to enter the rooms. The building also had much better air circulation. There were even gardens on the terraces for residents to enjoy.

The House of Flowers was a great achievement in architecture. It had a clean, simple look. The way the building used open spaces and solid parts was very interesting. Its windows, doors, and terraces created a varied and modern look. The straight, boxy corners were new for that time. The House of Flowers was a truly groundbreaking building.

Images for kids

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  The Casa de las Flores.

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  A view of Nuevos Ministerios.

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  The cloisters of Nuevos Ministerios.

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  Casa de las Flores in Madrid.

See also

In Spanish: Secundino Zuazo para niños