FOS / UNPHU Symposium
From 2. to 5. November 2001, the Friends of Schinkel held a symposium in conjunction with the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The conference, initiated by the Friends of Schinkel and Prof. José Enrique Delmonte (Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Arts, UNPHU) was skillfully coordinated and moderated by Prof. Marcos Barinas (Postgraduate Program Director, Faculty of Architecture and Arts, UNPHU). The event was sponsored by the prestigious Centro Cultural de la Embajada de España, located in the Colonial District.
The program included lectures by Prof. Eugenio Pérez Montás (2nd Vice President, Administration Council-UNPHU), who presented an entertaining talk on the subject of Vitruvianism; and Prof. Mónika Sánchez (UNPHU), who put forth a thought-provoking and informative discussion on the concept of "architecture" and "authorship". Emilio Brea (Director of the Urban Planning Council, Santo Domingo) presented an intimate account of the life and urban interventions of the anti-Trujillo architect, Guillermo González. Prof. Alan Schulman (University of Miami, Coral Gables) discussed a few of the works by a contemporary of González, the Miami architect, Igor Polevitsky, who designed more than 500 buildings in South Florida and the Caribbean in a 'tropical modern' style. Prof. Jean Francois Lejeune (University of Miami, Coral Gables) put forth an intellectually stimulating discussion on the historical precedent and contemporary influence of the urban and landscaping strategies of Schinkel and Lenné for the city of Berlin. Susan M. Peik (Director, Friends of Schinkel, Minneapolis, Minnesota) presented a paper on the subject of Schinkel's Charlottenhof, the Roman Baths, and the Court Gardener's House at Park Sanssouci in Potsdam. Prof. Rand Carter (Hamilton College, Clinton, New York) closed the program with an engaging talk on the subject of Schinkel, Persius and Lenné's summer retreats for the Prussian princes. Lamentably, due to sudden illness, Prof. Jorge Rigau (AIA, Puerto Rico) was unable to participate.In addition to the lecture progam, Prof. Barinas gave an informative bus tour of Santo Domingo, during which we were introduced to city monuments and vernacular-style architecture, including Colonial and Neo-colonial buildings, a few fine deco buildings that should be restored, the new furniture store "Domus" with interior by Barinas, a typical favela neighborhood, a building by Tomás Auñón, a striking axis inserted into the urban fabric by the architect Guillermo González, and a building by the contemporary Dominican architect, Gustavo Moré. José Enrique Delmonte gave a splendid on-site tour of Tomás Auñón's houses in the mountain town of Jarabacoa. Madrid native, Tomás Auñón introduced an interesting and unique style into the region that combined the Spanish technique of black tarring wood with the appropriation of vernacular elements common to the region. We found Auñón's geometries particularly engaging--one house had distinct elevations; however, the elevations seemed wrapped around the house, thus, creating the illusion that the house had no distinct front or back. We look forward to learning more about Auñón's buildings and Dean Delmonte's publication on the subject. Following our visit to Jarabacoa, we continued on to the Cibao valley and to the city of Santiago, where we were given a walking tour led by Prof. Eduardo Sanchez (M. Arch). Particularly impressive, during our all too brief visit, was the human scale of the city, a cathedral and its "Monument to Immortality", the deco buildings and vernacular warehouse buildings. We also visited a furniture store that had been beautifully remodelled by a local architect.
The Friends of Schinkel extends its thanks to the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña for making this symposium possible and to the Centro Cultural de la Embajada de España for sponsoring the event. We also thank Emilio Brea for hosting the inauguration party held at Fuerte San Gil, a colonial fort by the sea that Brea himself restored and that now serves as a charming open air restaurant. Finally, we thank all those persons from the cities of Santo Domingo, Jurabacoa and Santiago, who made our visit not only an important intellectual exchange, but also so very pleasurable.
Susan M. Peik
Director
Friends of Schinkel