Plaza de España de Sevilla.
Regionalism, an architectural style which emphasises aesthetic elements which are typically Andalusian, developed during the first third of the 20th century as a response to the so-called “end of the century crisis” which followed the loss of Spanish South American colonies in 1898. While some designers faced the situation by looking towards Europe and embracing modernism, others sought refuge in reviving former glories and this second approach left many examples which are still visible in the streets of Sevilla.
Born the historicist and regionalist styles were a form of architectural introspection which led to the development of neo-mudejar, neo-plateresque, neo-baroque, and andalucist sytles, and although numerous examples can be found around Sevilla, the most impressive are those located in the Maria Luisa Park and its surroundings, which were the site of the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. Seen by excessively optimistic forecasters as the solution to all of the city’s problems, the celebration of this event was used as an excuse to undertake major urban regeneration and development projects in Sevilla.
Anibal Gonzlaez, winner of the competition for the exhibition projects and regionalist par excellence, was the architect behind the monumental Plaza de España and the Plaza de America, the latter including three pavilions which reproduce the mudejar, gothic and renaissance styles. Until 1926, the Sevillian architect also worked in the construction various pavilions which can stil be seen today in te Maria Luisa Park.
The iconic building La Adriatica, in the Avenida de la Constitucion, and its twin in the calle Cuna, Ciudad de Londres, are two of the most charasteristic designs of the Sevilla architect Jose Espiau. However the main rival to Anibal Gonzalez was Juan Talavera, the municipal architect who designed a number of landmark buildings incluiding one in Plaza Nueva – the one for Telefonica company.