Felix Candela (1910–1997)

Candela was born 1910 in Madrid. He was a Spanish architect and played a significant role in the development of Mexican architecture. Candela’s major contribution to structural engineering was the development of thin shells made out of reinforced concrete.
Until 1935 he was educated at the University in Madrid in natural sciences, architecture and traveled to Germany to further study architecture.
From 1936 till 1939 Candela fought on the republican side of the Spanish Civil War against Franco and was imprisoned in Perpignan in France.
In 1941 he started his work as an architect in Acapulco, where he founded his own construction firm. Until 1960 he finished around 300 works and over 900 projects. Most of them are with thin concrete shells.
He died on 7 December in 1997 in Durham, USA.

Awards for Felix Candela

Augusto Perret prize of the Architects International Union

Important works by Felix Candela

• Aduanas, Las    
• Anahuac Market Hall and Annex
• Baccardi Rum Factory,Mexico
• Bodegas Rio
• Candelaria Metro Station
• Centro Gallego
• Chapel of Mirador de Palmira
• Chemical Sciences Auditorium
• Ciba Laboratories
• Cinema Media Naranja
• Cosmic Rays Pavilion
• Coyoacan Market Hall
• Divine Providence, Church of
• Frogner Park Monument
• High Life Textile Factory
• IMSS Band Shell
• ITESM Gymnasium
• Jamaica Wholesale Market Hall
• La Florida Church
• La Jacaranda Cabaret
• La Jacaranda Nightclub
• Lake Tequesquitengo Signpost
• Lederle Laboratories Boiler House
• Lederle Laboratories Cafeteria
• Lederle Laboratories Entrance
• Lederle Laboratories Production Buldings
• Merced Metro Station
• Plaza de los Abanicos
• Saint Peter the Martyr, Church of
• San Antonio de las Huertas, Church of
• San Bartolomé Apostol, Iglesia de
• San José Obrero, Church of
• San Lazaro Metro Station
• San Vincente de Paul Chapel
• Santa Monica Church
• Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús, Church of
• Sistema Nacional para la Ensenansa Professional de la Danza