The influence of the European masters affects so strongly the thinking and work of Rodulfo Oyarzún that upon returning to Chile in 1929 he develops only modern projects, refusing to perform any commission that requires a neoclassical or eclectic architecture. It is likely that this strict adherence was the reason the project sent to International Competition for the monument to Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (1928-1929) was considered not compliant with the tender regulations: his modern design proposal did not consider the Mayan cultural legacy defined according to the organizers. Already in the beginning of the 30s he published in El Mercurio an article entitled “Eppur Si Muove”, which reads: “(...) those who believe new art has achieved nothing are mistaken, because fake traditions and history in architecture have been buried and substituted by all the modern material and spiritual benefits, and that convinces even the most stubborn”. He continues, “... The architect, painter, sculptor, musician, writer, poet, is building a new art today, but has the exact consciousness that this new art is in its infancy. A look at the history of the past shows us that every historical period took centuries or thousands of years to reach maturity. “ Such is his commitment to the Modern Movement that during his journey through Germany in 1937 he requests a meeting with Adolf Hitler in order to obtain financial support to build the Chilean-German Monument in Puerto Varas. However, the night before the appointment a speech is broadcast in which Hitler attacks modern art and architecture, giving Oyarzún enough reason for not attending the meeting. This conviction is repeated in later works such as the building for the National Public Employees and Journalists Fund (1952) and several educational buildings such as the School of Engineering of the University of Chile (1961) and the Central Pavilion of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (1962).
perspectiva casa el bosque / perspective house on el bosque street
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