The architectural history of twentieth-century Spain was documented by Bernardo Giner de los Ríos, an architect and politician who built numerous schools in Madrid. His career bridged the technical demands of modernist construction with the administrative duties of a government minister during the Spanish Civil War, ultimately leading to a long period of exile in Mexico.
Professional Beginnings and Educational Infrastructure
Starting his professional practice during the 1920s, Giner de los Ríos dedicated significant efforts to the development of academic buildings. His work involved serving as a school inspector for the province of Levante, specifically around Alicante. In Madrid, he executed various school projects that embodied the modern Madrileño compromise style. These structures featured red-brick exteriors, strip windows, and moldings of a simplified section, reflecting design trends observed at the University City of Madrid.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Political Engagement and Government Service
Giner de los Ríos balanced his design work with a sustained political career. He served as a member of the Congress of Deputies and held seats in the Cortes republicanas during two distinct terms, 1931-1933 and 1936-1939. During the Spanish Civil War, he held the position of Minister of Development, also identified as Minister of Communications, Transport and Public Works, within the Republican government.
Exile and Scholarly Contributions
Following the war, he relocated to Santo Domingo for one year before settling in Mexico in 1940. He held the position of General Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic in exile between 1945 and 1960, a tenure that included a three-year residency in Paris starting in 1946. In 1952, he published 50 Años de Arquitectura Española (1900-1950) in Mexico City, a historical text derived from an August 1951 lecture at the Ateneo Español de México. Furthermore, he directed the publication of the Boletín de la Institución Libre de Enseñanza in Mexico from 1961 until his death in 1970.
Fast facts
- Born: 1888
- Died: 1970, Mexico City
- Citizenship: Spain
- Occupations: Architect, writer, politician
- Ministerial position: Minister of Development
- Key Publication: 50 Años de Arquitectura Española (1900-1950)
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Giner de los Ríos document in his writing?
He focused on the history of twentieth-century Spanish architecture, emphasizing technical advancements, school construction, and municipal urban design.
What was the Institución Libre de Enseñanza?
It was a freethinking institution founded in 1876 by his father, Hermenegildo Giner de los Ríos, and his uncle, Francisco Giner de los Ríos.
