The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

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Venice, involving high-profile international

relief efforts. The main subject of study was

undoubtedly restoration of monuments and

historic centers, a discipline led by Professors

Gennaro Tampone and Francesco Gurrieri in

their classrooms at the Palazzo Rucellai or at

the headquarters of the Collegio degli Ingeg-

neri della Toscana, which hosted the Centro

Studi di Restauro dei Monumenti e Centri

Storici, an academic institution sponsored

with international cooperation through the

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic,

the options for the academic study of archi-

tecture had considerably expanded. Special-

ized schools and departments were estab-

lished at the Pontificia Universidad Católica

Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), the Universi-

dad Dominicana de Organización y Método

(O & M), the Universidad Iberoamericana

(UNIBE), and the Universidad Central del

Este UCE, which joined the existing ones

such as the UASD and UNPHU. Many of

the graduates from schools in Italy become

instructors at these schools upon their re-

turn: Calventi, Gautier, Cott, and Báez at

the UASD; and Fernández de Castro, León,

Mena, Castellanos, Moré, and Marranzini at other institutions.

Bichara Khoury (March 12, 1947).

Società di Gestione Avanzata, Urbino, 1980. Invitation through the De-

sign Department of the Secretary of State for Public Works. For many years he was a professor at the Auton-

omous University of Santo Domingo, UASD. He was president of the Society of Architects of the Dominican

Republic and has devoted himself to carrying out design and construction projects of various kinds.

Apolinar Fernández de Castro (February 8, 1948).

Università degli Studi di Firenze, 1971-1974. Thesis:

“The sviluppo della Società dependent nella Repubblica Dominicana e i suoi riflessi nella architettura e nella

urbanistica” (The Development of Dependent Society in the Dominican Republic and how it is Reflected in

Architecture and Urban Planning). His specialization was urban design, under the supervision of Prof. Do-

menico Cardini. He validated his degree with the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., by submitting a

thesis and research on the subject of restoration of monuments. At the time, Mr. Dominici was serving as the

ambassador of Italy to the Dominican Republic. He has authored various important residential projects and

developed a line of industrial and interior design of great relevance to local culture.

Adoris Martínez (July 18, 1950).

Università degli Studi di Firenze, Centro Studi Restauro Monumenti e

Centri Storici, 1985, Collegio degli Ingegneri della Toscana campus. Italian Language Course for Foreigners in

Perugia. Thesis: “Giardino de la Montalve e Villa Quiete nella via di Boldrone.” She has been an official of the

Office of Cultural Heritage, subsequently the Office of Monumental Heritage, for many years.

Gabriel Báez Risk (September 3, 1950).

Università degli Studi di Firenze, 1975- 1977. His major area

of study was urban planning. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. He became a professor

through M. S. Gautier, then dean of the Faculty of Architecture at UASD. In Florence, he studied under Carlo

Partial view of

Independence Park

in Santo Domingo.

Restored and

transformed by

architect Christian

MartÍnez Villanueva c.

1976.

Moré

THE ITALIAN TRAINING OF MODERN DOMINICAN ARCHITECTS, 1950 - 2019