Alvarez Augusto H.
(b Mérida, 24 Dec 1914; d Mexico City, 29 Nov 1995). Mexican
architect. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional de México,
Mexico City, in 1939. In his early works he was influenced by the
theories of José Villagrán García and later by those of Le
Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Gropius. He is notable in Mexican
architecture for his adherence to Rationalism throughout his long
career. In construction he used steel and concrete, prefabricated
units and glass, and there is an evident unity in his works,
especially in the high quality of his finishes. A notable example of
his buildings is a small bank branch (1958; destr.), Mexico City, in
which the International Style is clearly visible in the cleverly
composed structure and in the neon illumination of the exterior,
recalling Mondrian. The Jaysour Building (1961), Mexico City, is the
clearest example of his assimilation of the International Style,
evident in the ground-plan, structure and even the glass cladding.
Also in Mexico City are the IBM Building (1971–2), an innovative and
flexible design adapted to different functions on each of its six
levels, and the La Mitra offices (1972–3), in which he managed to
blend the exposed concrete structure with a system of metal
mezzanines, the use of space being fundamental.
