ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on three construction projects under patented systems: Our Lady of "La Antigua", Orduna, "La Ceres" flour mill, Bilbao, and Alhondiga, Bilbao. Reinforced concrete structures came to Spain in the late-nineteenth century, somewhat after the development of the new construction material elsewhere in Europe. Their introduction was pioneered in industrialized areas, especially Northern Spain, under systems first patented in other European countries. The arrangement of La Ceres steel reinforcements faithfully followed the Hennebique patented system. However, Orduna and Alhondiga only partial match it. The average strength values are, despite their high variability, well design strengths in patented systems. An industrial construction, designed for productive activity, the Ceres flour mill is a well-known building, featured in an article by F. Hennebique, which published some structural plans in the "Revista de Obras Publicas". Local constructors built structures under patents with little or no explanation for calculation, design and construction technique.
