Alejandro Christophersen (1866–1946) was an Argentine architect and artist who designed many important buildings in the city of

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

, including the renowned Anchorena Palace.

Biography

Christophersen was born in Cádiz,

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in 1866, the son of the Norwegian diplomat Otto Thorvald Alexander Christophersen, Consul to Spain. He studied architecture in

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and art in

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. In 1888 he arrived in Argentina, and settled in

, during his career as an architect he gave the port city many of its most important buildings. He was a professor at the School of Architecture of the Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences at the

University of Buenos Aires The University of Buenos Aires (, UBA) is a public university, public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the second-oldest university in the country, and the largest university of the country by enrollment. Established in 1821 ...

, he is considered to be one of the central figures of eclectic architecture in Argentina, where he was one of the founder members of the Central Society of Architects. His earlier works were influenced by French

Second Empire architecture Second Empire style, also known as the Napoleon III style, is a highly eclectic style of architecture and decorative arts originating in the Second French Empire. It was characterized by elements of many different historical styles, and al ...

, though his later projects were Rationalist. Christophersen was also an accomplished painter, and became well known for his impressionist portraits of local society ladies. He died in Buenos Aires in 1946.

Works

His most important works include: *Astoria Hotel at 902 Avenida de Mayo, 1895. *Façade of Café Tortoni in Avenida de Mayo, 1898. *Private residence for Adela Unzué de Leloir at 1264 Libertad street, 1903 (since 1944 the headquarters of Círcolo Italiano). * Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity at 323 Brasil street, 1905. *Construction of Anchorena Palace at 761 Arenales street for the family of Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena (today the headquarters of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

), 1910. *Headquarters for the Argentine Association of Actors at 1762 Adolfo Alsina street, 1914. *

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at 299 Sarmiento street, inaugurated 1916. *Basílica of Santa Rosa de Lima at the junction of Belgrano Avenue and Pasco street, 1928–34. *Transradio Building, Corrientes Avenue, 1940. *Hotel Marcel de Buenos Aires - Calle Venezuela - 2763/65 - 1 de 3 casas de renta - 1898

External links

Arquitectura.com: Alejandro Christophersen

References

* Alberto Dodero & Philippe Cros. ''Argentina, The Golden Years, 1889-1939''. El Ateneo, 2007. 1866 births 1946 deaths Academic staff of the University of Buenos Aires Argentine people of Norwegian descent People from Cádiz Burials at La Recoleta Cemetery 19th-century Argentine architects 19th-century Argentine painters 19th-century Argentine male artists Argentine male painters 20th-century Argentine architects 20th-century Argentine painters 20th-century Argentine male artists {{Argentina-architect-stub