Contemporary architecture in the Dominican Republic
by Rafael Calventi.

BNV Colection. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. December, 1986
Spanish and English

History chapter
A brief discourse on architecture in dominican history: (1492-1965)
by Gustavo L. Moré, Architect

[Spanish]

The public and private works construction sector has undergone a remarkable development over the last twenty-five years in the Dominican Republic, not only from the point of view of the number of projects but also in terms of advances in design and the architectural profession itself. Although it is true the modern architecture was born during the Trujillo dictatorship (1930-1961), with the impetus of work by the pioneers such as Guillermo González, José Antonio Caro Alvarez, Marcial and Leo Pou Ricart and Humberto Ruiz Castillo, who are considered today to be the first generation of avante-garde architects, it was not until the mid-sixties that new trends in architecture began to appear.

This book presents an unprecedented selection of some of the most outstanding building from the period 1961-1986.

These are buildings which are remarkable for their solutions to technical problems as well as from a compositional and esthetic perspective. Tables, photographs and a short accompanying text are provided for each. The buildings are divided into several groups by function to facilitate comparison and analysis. An Historical-critical essay introduces the reader to past developments in Dominican architecture and provides a summary of the major stylistic movements, changes in construction techniques and buildings which have won a special place in the collective memory of the Dominican Republic.

This book was sponsored by the National Housing Bank in order to fill the informational gap, both in the Dominican Republic and abroad, with respect to architectural initiatives over the last twenty-five years.

from the book cover