Today, January 27, marks the 113th birthday of Félix Candela—of Spanish and Mexican nationality—who is one of the most globally recognized architects of the 20th century. His career was defined by his exploration of reinforced concrete through experiments that resulted in his famous cascarones (concrete shells): key structural and design elements that support many of his works, such as the Cosmic Rays Pavilion at UNAM, Mexico City (1951); the Palmira Chapel in Cuernavaca (1958); the Los Manantiales Restaurant, Xochimilco (1958); and the Palacio de los Deportes for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
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The relevance of Félix Candela's work and the structural principles he developed marked a defining era both in Mexico and globally. Indeed, to this day, architects continue to study his output to propose new construction methods using contemporary tools. This is true of architect Patrik Schumacher, principal of Zaha Hadid Architects, who discussed his admiration for Candela's work and its influence on his own practice in an exclusive interview with ArchDaily. Given the enduring importance of revisiting his legacy, we have compiled a selection of projects and articles inspired by his work.
