ABSTRACT
In 1957 a Spanish building finished two years earlier received the Reynolds Memorial Award. A jury consisting of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe or Willem Dudok highlights the use of aluminium in this building, choosing it from among 85 applicants from around the world. How was this possible in a country that still used mostly traditional construction techniques? José Ortiz Echaugüe, president of CASA aeronautics and SEAT automotive, provided the means for his son and architect César to lead a pioneering interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers and architects. To lighten the building, because of the low resistance of the terrain, aluminium construction technology was integrated into the architectural design. To provide thermal comfort, innovative solar radiation devices, and air conditioning services were developed based upon systems employed in airplanes and cars. We address this pioneering technology transfer process between aeronautics and architecture in the SEAT Dining Hall (1956).
