The Constructive Drawings of the Architect Juan Antonio García Solera

Abstract

Architectural drawing is not an end in itself, but is an instrument for the proper execution of built work. In modernity, the generalised nature of industrially manufactured materials and their execution or installation outpaced traditional established techniques, stimulating the use of different and innovative procedures. Thus arose the need to define the construction production information content in the project in a standardised way in order to guarantee the proper control of the construction works. A way of projecting construction information that incorporated its content within the relevant and appropriate architectural invention. This process of change underwent a strong development phase in Spanish architecture around the middle of the 20th century. The architect Juan Antonio García Solera (qualified 1953) (Fig. 1) belongs to the second generation of architects in the Spanish post-war period. His preparation in drawing technique, and his work with the Professor of Construction of the Architecture School of Madrid, Rafael Fernández Huidobro, make him an emblematic example of this development phase in Spanish architecture. His ability as a designer and draftsman is reflected in the design detailing that illustrates his construction inventiveness applied in the implementation of new construction techniques, and the detailing and incorporation of new materials. This is evident when we analyse a selection of his drawings.