Carles Buigas
Encyclopedia
Carles Buïgas i Sans was a Spanish architect, engineer, inventor and author.
Buïgas was born into an educated family in Barcelona, son of the architect Gaietà Buïgas. When he was seven, his family moved to Montevideo
(Uruguay) but returned to Barcelona in 1910. In 1916, he entered the School of Industrial Engineers of Barcelona; he did not graduate as he started to work as an assistant for the Exhibition of Electrical Industries of Barcelona. Later he continued to study at the École de Civil Génie of Paris.
In 1922 Buïgas designed his first project with illuminated water fountains for the Royal Palace of Pedralbes
. Eugeni d'Ors
described his work as a new style of art, the art of agualuz. His most famous work is the Magic Fountain of Montjuic
, created for the International Exposition in Barcelona in 1929
.
During the Spanish Civil War
he settled in Paris, where he resided until 1942. During these years he gained international reputation and he obtained commissions for projects for international expositions in Paris (1937)
, Liege (1939), Lisbon (1940), Rome (1953), and the Expo 58 at Brussels. In 1955, he designed the Teatro del Aqua y Luz for the international fair in Santo Domingo
. As an inventor he designed a torpedo bomber
seaplane in 1914, a device to recover seasand for construction (1922), a one-personmidget submarine
(1932), a remote-controlled torpedo guided by ultrasound (1931–33) and other devices.
Besides his architectural works, Buïgas wrote for magazines and published a number of books. He spent the last years of his life in Cerdanyola del Vallès
where he died and is buried.
Biography
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
(Uruguay) but returned to Barcelona in 1910. In 1916, he entered the School of Industrial Engineers of Barcelona; he did not graduate as he started to work as an assistant for the Exhibition of Electrical Industries of Barcelona. Later he continued to study at the École de Civil Génie of Paris.
In 1922 Buïgas designed his first project with illuminated water fountains for the Royal Palace of Pedralbes
Pedralbes
Pedralbes is a neighborhood in Les Corts district of Barcelona, Catalonia . Before the administrative division of 1984, the neighborhood was part of Sarrià and the former municipality of Sant Vicenç de Sarrià....
. Eugeni d'Ors
Eugeni d'Ors
Eugeni d’Ors i Rovira was a Catalan Spanish writer, essayist, journalist, philosopher and art critic...
described his work as a new style of art, the art of agualuz. His most famous work is the Magic Fountain of Montjuic
Montjuïc
Montjuïc is a hill located in Barcelona, Catalonia.-Etymology:Montjuïc is translated as 'Jew Hill' in medieval Catalan, or is perhaps related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus . The name is found in several locations in the Catalan Countries: the Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona both have a...
, created for the International Exposition in Barcelona in 1929
1929 Barcelona International Exposition
The 1929 Barcelona International Exposition took place from 20 May 1929 to 15 January 1930 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain...
.
During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
he settled in Paris, where he resided until 1942. During these years he gained international reputation and he obtained commissions for projects for international expositions in Paris (1937)
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France...
, Liege (1939), Lisbon (1940), Rome (1953), and the Expo 58 at Brussels. In 1955, he designed the Teatro del Aqua y Luz for the international fair in Santo Domingo
Fair of Peace and Fraternity of the Free World
The Fair of Peace and Fraternity of the Free World was an international world's fair that took place during the Trujillo Era in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1955-56....
. As an inventor he designed a torpedo bomber
Torpedo bomber
A torpedo bomber is a bomber aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes which could also carry out conventional bombings. Torpedo bombers existed almost exclusively prior to and during World War II when they were an important element in many famous battles, notably the...
seaplane in 1914, a device to recover seasand for construction (1922), a one-personmidget submarine
Midget submarine
A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
(1932), a remote-controlled torpedo guided by ultrasound (1931–33) and other devices.
Besides his architectural works, Buïgas wrote for magazines and published a number of books. He spent the last years of his life in Cerdanyola del Vallès
Cerdanyola del Vallès
Cerdanyola del Vallès is a municipality in the comarca of the Vallès Occidental in Catalonia . It is situated in the on the north side of the Collserola ridge. The town is served by the A-7 and C-58 autopistes, the N-150 road and the RENFE railway commuter lines R4, R7 and railway regional line Ca4...
where he died and is buried.
Works
- Magic Fountain, MontjuicMontjuïcMontjuïc is a hill located in Barcelona, Catalonia.-Etymology:Montjuïc is translated as 'Jew Hill' in medieval Catalan, or is perhaps related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus . The name is found in several locations in the Catalan Countries: the Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona both have a...
- Montjuïc Aerial Tramway (Teleférico del puerto),Port of Barcelona - Montjuic
- Fountain, Barcelona Airport
- Illumination, Sagrada FamíliaSagrada FamiliaThe ' , commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí...
- Teatro del Aqua y Luz, Santo DomingoSanto DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
Books
- 1943 - Bajo las constelaciones.
- 1946 - El hombre entre enigmas y prodigios.
- 1960 - La Nave Luminosa.
- 1966 - El teatre integral amb escenari d'Aigua-Llum-Música.
- 1973 - Viajes interplanetarios y algo más.
- 1973 - Hechos, ideas y proyectos.
- 1975 - La extraordinaria aventura.
- 1975 - La gran revolución.
- 1976 - El día 41