Antonin Nechodoma

Antonin Nechodoma (1877–1928), was a Czech architect who practiced in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic from 1905 to 1928. He is known for the introduction of the Prairie Style to the Caribbean and the integration of Arts and Crafts elements to his architecture. Nechodoma designed in such style at the historical district of Miramar, Puerto Rico where the town preserves his creation.

Antonin Nechodoma
Born1877
Prague, Czech Republic
Died1928
Puerto Rico
NationalityCzech
OccupationArchitect
BuildingsMissionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Ponce, PR)
Casa Korber
Casa Roig
Georgetti Mansion
ProjectsThe Market in San Pedro de Macoris

Biography

Antonin Nechodoma was born in Prague (then part of Bohemia) in 1877. In 1887, Nechodoma's family emigrated to Chicago where he worked as a contractor. In 1905, Nechodoma, already an architect, arrived in Puerto Rico after working for a short period in Florida. In Puerto Rico (1905–1928), Nechodoma became one of the most prominent architects in the Caribbean. His work included private and public buildings: banks, schools, markets, churches and houses. His practice extended to the Dominican Republic where he built the main 'glorieta' in the Parque Independencia in Santo Domingo and the Market in San Pedro de Macoris.

Nechodoma's work has been surrounded by controversy. His architectural style varied widely, from Neo-Classical Style for public school buildings, Gothic and Mission Style for his churches and Prairie Style in his houses. The most controversial aspect of Nechodoma's work has been his plagiarism of Frank Lloyd Wright's residential work. Architectural historians Jorge Rigau,[1] Enrique Vivoni Farage,[2] and Nechodoma's biographer, Thomas Marvel[3] have discussed extensively Nechodoma's direct use of Wright's Wasmuth Portfolio as a reference for his residential work in Puerto Rico.

Despite the controversy, Nechodoma made significant contributions to the architecture of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. His integration of arts and crafts motifs to his architecture, ranging from furniture design, ironwork, stained glass, and mosaics, had an enormous influence in the Caribbean architecture of the early 20th century. His prolific production left a wealth of first class public buildings in both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, notable because of their technical innovations and their contribution toward forming a language of tropical architecture in the Caribbean. Nechodoma's work was published extensively during his lifetime.[4] He also published in 1927 an important article on architecture in Puerto Rico entitled "Concerning Architecture in Puerto Rico".[5]

Nechodoma died in a car crash in 1928.[6]

Notable works

Antonin Nechodoma's Papers

The Architecture and Construction Archives at the University of Puerto Rico (AACUPR) holds the Antonin Nechodoma Collection (1906-1992). Approximately four cubic feet in size, the collection contains architectural drawings, photographs, artifacts, and textual documents. The Architectural Drawings Series holds 20 projects organized chronologically. The documents were transferred to the School of Architecture’s Library in 1986.

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References
  1. Rigau, Jorge (1992). Puerto Rico 1900. Rizzoli.
  2. Vivoni, Enrique (1989). Antonin Nechodoma: umbral para una nueva arquitectura caribeña. Archivos de Arquitectura y Construccion.
  3. Marvel, Thomas S. (1994). Antonin Nechodoma: Architect, 1877-1928: The Prairie School in the Caribbean. University Press of Florida.
  4. Comstock, William T. (2003) [1908]. Bungalows, Camps and Mountain Houses. Merrymeeting Archives, LLC.
  5. Nechodoma, Antonin. (1927). Concerning Architecture in Puerto Rico. The Western Architect December 1927, p. 194.
  6. Aida Belen Rivera Ruiz, Certifying Official, and Juan Llanes Santos, Preparer, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) February 26, 2008. In National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. United States Department of the Inferior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 11. Listing Reference Number 08000283. April 11, 2008.

The Antonin Nechodoma Collection electronic finding aid may be consulted through www.hip.upr.edu

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