Alejandro Bustillo
Alejandro Gabriel Bustillo Madero | |
|---|---|
 in Autoretrato de Alejandro Bustillo (1912) | |
| Born | March 18, 1889 |
| Died | November 3, 1982 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | Banco de la Nación, Argentina Casino de Mar del Plata, Argentina Hotel Provincial de Mar del Plata, Argentina Hotel Llao Llao, Bariloche, Argentina |
Alejandro Bustillo (1889-1982) was an Argentine painter and architect who left his mark in numerous cities and towns in Argentina, especially in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Rosario, Bariloche and Villa La Angostura.
Born in Buenos Aires on 18 March 1889, son of María Luisa Madero and Dr. José María Bustillo, he is member of a historic family in Argentina with lots of influences in the political life of the country during the 19th century.
His uncle, Eduardo Madero, was the designer of the former Port of Buenos Aires, currently a modern district of downtown Buenos Aires, known as Puerto Madero after his uncle's name.
He spent long times of his childhood in the countryside, living in Estancias (the name given to farms or ranches in Argentina).
He completed his secondary school studies in Otto Krause Technical School. He later entered the School of Architecture in the University of Buenos Aires and graduated from there as an architect in 1914.
On August 8, 1917 he married Blanca Ayerza (1892-1978). The couple had 8 children, César, Jorge, Alejandro, Mario, Nelly, Marta, Blanca and Inés. Their forst son, César Bustillo was born on november 21, 1917.
He obtained his first professional experience working on the design of estancias, including one for his own family, Estancia La Primavera in 1918. Two years later he returned to Buenos Aires. After a visit to Paris, Bustillo undertook two major projects for Carlos Tornquist in Buenos Aires, by designing the family’s house (now the Belgium Embassy) in 1923, and the Tornquist Bank (now the Credit Lyonais Bank) in 1928.
From 1924 until 1937 he consolidated his career with a large number of works including commercial buildings, private houses and rental property. In 1931 he undertook the remodelling of the interior of the Palais de Glace and in 1932 he began the transformation of an old pumping station in Libertador Avenue, Buenos Aires, into the new headquarters for the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
In 1938 he began some of his most important works by winning the competition for the design of the Llao Llao Hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche, an important tourist centre. The building, made almost entirely of wood, was destroyed by fire soon after its completion in 1939 and a year later Bustillo built a new hotel out of reinforced concrete and stone. In 1939, another one of his works, the Mar del Plata Casino was opened and he started on the design of the building for the headquarters of the Banco Nacional de Buenos Aires which was finally opened in 1944. In 1946 he completed the Hotel Provincial and other works of urbanization in Mar del Plata.
During his career he designed numerous estancias (ranches) the magnificent Villa María (1923), in Máximo Paz, a district of Greater Buenos Aires.
His last works began in 1977 and he died in Buenos Aires on 3 November 1982 at the age of 93 having completed over 250 projects.
He was also hired to build different state and municipal buildings in different cities around the country; like the Mar del Plata city hall, or the Nahuel Huapi State Park Council Building in Bariloche.
References
Alberto Bellucci, The Bariloche Style, J. Decorative & Propaganda Arts, Argentine Theme Issue, 1992.,
El Portal de arte y arquitectura en Internet Template:Es icon
Alejandro Bustillo's biography at Youbioit.com Template:Es icon