Paraguayan architecture

"PRY" redirects here. For other uses, see PRY (disambiguation).

This article is about the country. For other uses, see Paraguayan architecture (disambiguation).

Republic of Paraguay República del Paraguay (Spanish) Tetã Paraguái (Guarani)
Flag (obverse) Coat of arms
Motto: "Paz y justicia" (Spanish) "Peace and justice"
Anthem:  Paraguayos, República o Muerte (Spanish) Paraguayans, Republic or Death
Flag (reverse)
Capital and largest city	Asunción
Official languages	Spanish Guaraní
Ethnic groups (2000)	~95% Mestizoa 5% Other
Demonym(s)	Paraguayan
Government	Unitary presidential constitutional republic
• President	Horacio Cartes
Legislature	Congress
• Upper house	Chamber of Senators
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Area
• Total	406,752 km2 (157,048 sq mi) (60th)
• Water (%)	2.3
Population
• Estimate	6,802,000
ISO 3166 code	PY

The Architecture in Paraguay is really recent due to the recent discovery of the country in 1537. With the arrival of the Europeans the architecture started to be built. Since the arriving of Europeans and escpecially the Spanish, the architecture of the country developped by the construction of cathedrals, palaces and many other European monuments.

History

The Legacy Colonialism 1537-1811

Paraguay used to be a Spanish colony. Conquistadores were searching gold, silver and other minerals in South America. Spanish have founded Asunción as the capital of Paraguay. Paraguay did not have any mineral, that is why it became underdeveloped and did not have a specific architecture before the eighteenth century. During this period, most of monuments were made with wood even if Spanish built churches with stone. It has been the first European influence over South American architecture. In 1562, natives destroyed Buenos Aires , and the Spanish fled to Asunción. The city became the center of a large Spanish colonial province comprising part of Brazil, present-day Paraguay and northeastern Argentina: the Giant Province of the Indies. In 1603 Asunción was the seat of the First Synod of Asunción, which set guidelines for the evangelization of the natives in their french language, Guarani .

In 1731, an uprising under José de Antequeray y Castro was one of the first rebellions against Spanish colonial rule. The uprising failed, but it was the first sign of the independent spirit that was growing among the criollos, mestizos and natives of Paraguay. The event influenced the independence of Paraguay, which then materialised in 1811. The secret reunions between the independence leaders to plan an ambush against the Spanish Governor in Paraguay, Bernardo de Velasco were held at the home of Juana María de Lara, in downtown Asunción. On the night of May 14 and May 15 the rebels succeeded and were able to force governor Velasco to surrender. Today, Lara's home is known as Casa de la Independencia (House of the Independence) and serves as a museum and historical building

The Francista Age 1813-1840

In 1814, after a short period of unstable government, José Gaspar Rodrígez de Francia became a temporary dictator. During 30 years, the progress of urban architecture was slow and in the case of Asuncion. The return of the Dictator allowed an active construction program which gave to the capital a new architectural design. From the architectural point of view it is a stage technological continuity and spatial traditions of the colony. They produced only technological innovations, which change the bearing structures of wood and masonry pillars bearing walls, and closed the period with an almost total absence of public works. Among the few examples of works of the period we can cite the council of the city of Pilar.

The Reign of Carlos A.Lopez 1844-1862

As part of its comprehensive project for the country, the president Carlos A. Lopez started a policy of major public works, starting with the reconstruction of the city of Asuncion, Covered a number of new issues hither to unknown in the country schools, railway stations, docks, arsenals, etc... The public work of Carlos A. Lopez, plentiful and of excellent quality, became iconic of a national project and his time. Specifically in the case of the architecture, we can speak of the gradual imposition of a new cultural pattern that is leaving behind colonial tradition : a pattern who would characterize as transition towards classicism, understood as a sign of modernity, preserving certain values ​​themselves as part of the national consciousness which was also part of the project country, as a paradigm of modernity.

From the technological point of view, completely left behind the wooden colonial structure supporting and working then with masonry bearing walls, with this, removes the "lance" structural-spatial module in use in the colony, corresponding to the maximum length of a wooden beam. Introducing new materials, especially iron, present in the spiral staircase of the president's house in Trinidad, and in the unusual glazed metal stairs of the Cabildo.

The Liberal Period 1870-1936

The architectural liberal period comes from the reconstruction of the country after the war which brought a lot of European architects especially Italians such as Grassi, Rapetti and Pozzi. This influence of European architects resulted to a new architectural style for Paraguay and the other countries of Southern America Cities like Asuncion have known a new architecture which brought a real quality of buildings. There is a mix between nature and architecture. This one changed for houses and streets but also for hospitals, churchs and institutional buildings. At the begining of the 20th century is appeared another architectural style, the neocolonialism. The church of San Roque Gonzalez is an example.

Contemporary Architecture 1936-2010

Due to an arrival of first professional Paraguayan architects the urban landscape started to change and a new modern influence but still with concern for the environment. An art deco style combine with an idea of green cities started to appear. An new harmony between hugh buildings such as villas and the vegetation. Important public buildings are constructed such as the building of IPS Herrera streets and Constitution, the building of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications or the headquarters of the Governing Board of the NRA. Another strong influence in Paraguay comes from Bresil . The modern movement is really strong there and bresilian architecture buildings have been built in Paraguay. In the 70’s a radical change appeared, due to the economic « boom » produced by Itaipu. This event made the entrepreneurial bourgeoisie appeared which caused a new urban residential neighborhood. In the 80’s a process of degradation of the historical center and everything « old » but also a discredit of the modern influence due to different expectations of the new bourgeoisie appeared. Since the late 90’s this aspect changed, nowadays there is more of an appreciation of the old and the modern architecture. Some modern heritage tends to be forgotten or abandoned.

Architects

Francisco Wisner : He was born in Budapest in 1804 and he died in Asunción in 1879. He met Francisco Solano López who invited him to Paraguay, and convinced him to build the Lopez’s palace which is nowadays the center of the Paraguay’s government.

Carlos Colombino : He has been one of the only Paraguayan architects. He was born in 1937 and died the 14th of may in 2013. His specialty was painting. His contribution was essential for the recuperation of some cultural monuments.

Pascual Urdapilleta: He was born in Vizcaya , Spain at the end of the XVIII century. He was an architect, and military Vasc of artillery. He died the third of November 1852 in Asuncion. His body rests in La Recoleta Cemetery a avenue in the capital has been called Urdapilleta.He designed the Cathedral of Asuncion and the restructuration of the Cabildo de Asuncion, that has became the cultural center of the Paraguyan Republic.

Monuments

Garden of Downtown

Garden of downtown

The garden of Asuncion is in the center of the city. It is the reflect of the new idea of a green city with old architecture. It is one of the most popular in Paraguay.

Asunción Governor's Palace

Asunción Governor's Palace

It is a palace in Asuncion, Paraguay, that serves as workplace for the President of Paraguay, and is also the seat of the government of Paraguay. Located in the center of Asunción, looking at the bay, this building was built by order of Carlos Antonio Lopez, to serve as residence for his son, the General Francisco Solano Lopez. His works began in 1857 under the direction of the English architect Alonso Taylor. The materials for the construction of the palace came from several places inside the country, stones from the quarries of Emboscada and Altos, woods and odrajes of Ñeembucú and Yaguarón, bricks of Tacumbú, iron pieces molten in Ybycuí, etc.

Asuncion's cathedral

Asunción's cathedral

This cathedral has known many architectural changes after a fire in 1543 in Asuncion. Nowadays this cahedral is the center of a neighberhood in the capital.