Max Cetto
Encyclopedia
Max Ludwig Cetto was a German
-Mexican
architect
, historian
of architecture
, and professor
.
Born in Koblenz
, Germany
, Max Cetto studied at the Darmstadt University of Technology
, Munich
and Berlin
. At the latter he studied with Hans Poelzig
, graduating as an engineer–architect in 1926. In 1932 he took part in the competition for the design of the headquarters of the League of Nations
in Geneva
, and he was a founder-member of CIAM
. He moved to San Francisco in 1938, where he worked in the studio of Richard Neutra
.
He settled in Mexico
and became a naturalized Mexican in 1947. As well as having a natural affinity with Mexico, he was able to incorporate his Europe
an experiences into what he built there. The respect for nature he had learnt from Neutra is evident in his handling of the volcanic terrain of the Jardines del Pedregal
, Mexico City
, where he collaborated
with Luis Barragán
, constructing various houses amid the impressive scenery of the place without
disturbing the volcanic lava or the vegetation. He also showed skill and great sensitivity in using the materials and techniques of the region.
Notable examples of his work there are the studio house of 1944 for the surrealist painter Wolfgang Paalen
in San Angel, his own house (1949) and that built in 1951 for the painter Roberto Berdecio
(b 1910). These and other houses elsewhere, where he combined a Modernist approach with a respect for ecology
, were highly influential in Mexican domestic architecture. In 1966 he won second prize in the international competition for a museum of art in West Berlin
. He was Professor
of Architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, from 1965 to 1979.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
.
Born in Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Max Cetto studied at the Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
, Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
and Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
. At the latter he studied with Hans Poelzig
Hans Poelzig
Hans Poelzig was a German architect, painter and set designer.-Life:Poelzig was born in Berlin in 1869 to the countess Clara Henrietta Maria Poelzig while she was married to George Acland Ames, an Englishman...
, graduating as an engineer–architect in 1926. In 1932 he took part in the competition for the design of the headquarters of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, and he was a founder-member of CIAM
CIAM
CIAM may refer to:* Commission Internationale Aeromodelling, a section of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale* Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne, the International Congress of Modern Architecture...
. He moved to San Francisco in 1938, where he worked in the studio of Richard Neutra
Richard Neutra
Richard Joseph Neutra is considered one of modernism's most important architects.- Biography :Neutra was born in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna, Austria Hungary, on April 8, 1892. He was born into both-Jewish wealthy family...
.
He settled in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and became a naturalized Mexican in 1947. As well as having a natural affinity with Mexico, he was able to incorporate his Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an experiences into what he built there. The respect for nature he had learnt from Neutra is evident in his handling of the volcanic terrain of the Jardines del Pedregal
Jardines del Pedregal
Jardines del Pedregal or simply El Pedregal is an upscale residential colonia in southern Mexico City. Its borders are San Jerónimo Avenue and Ciudad Universitaria at the north, Insurgentes Avenue at the east and Periférico at south and west. Its were the major real estate project undertaken by...
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, where he collaborated
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
with Luis Barragán
Luis Barragán
Luis Barragán Morfin was a Mexican architect. He was self-trained.-Early life:Educated as an engineer, he graduated from the Escuela Libre de Ingenieros in Guadalajara in 1923 and was self-trained as an architect.After graduation, he travelled through Spain, France , and...
, constructing various houses amid the impressive scenery of the place without
disturbing the volcanic lava or the vegetation. He also showed skill and great sensitivity in using the materials and techniques of the region.
Notable examples of his work there are the studio house of 1944 for the surrealist painter Wolfgang Paalen
Wolfgang Paalen
Wolfgang Paalen was an Austrian-Mexican painter and theorist.-Early life:Wolfgang Paalen was born in Vienna in 1905, as the first of four sons of the Austrian-Jewish merchant and inventor Gustav Robert Paalen, and his German wife, the actress Clothilde Emilie Gunkel...
in San Angel, his own house (1949) and that built in 1951 for the painter Roberto Berdecio
Roberto Berdecio
Roberto Berdecio was a Bolivian-born artist.A significant contributor to the important political and cultural art movement in Mexico during the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Sucre, Bolivia....
(b 1910). These and other houses elsewhere, where he combined a Modernist approach with a respect for ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, were highly influential in Mexican domestic architecture. In 1966 he won second prize in the international competition for a museum of art in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. He was Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, from 1965 to 1979.
Books
- Modern architecture in Mexico. Arquitectura moderna en México. [Translated from the German into English by D. Q. Stephenson. Translated from the German into Spanish by Francisco Maigler]. New York: Praeger, 1961. Books That Matter.