Antonio Fernández Alba. A highly esteemed architect and professor.

Abstract

The author reminisces about his time as an architecture student under the instruction of Antonio Fernández Alba in the Composition Elements course, also influenced by his father and the magazine Nueva Forma. The school was transitioning between traditional and modern teaching methods, with Fernández Alba leading a transformation that integrated theory with hands-on projects. This course, filled with complex and creative assignments, ranged from poster design to functional spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, culminating in complete architectural projects. Fernández Alba’s influence left a lasting impact on his students, who often developed their projects in model form, followed by a rigorous evaluation process. Despite his successful pedagogy, Fernández Alba resigned due to conflicts with the school’s director, leading to an atmosphere of protest that tied educational reform to opposition against Franco’s regime. Fernández Alba, along with his collaborators, later achieved prominence in academia, praised for his skill in recognising and nurturing talent, especially through recommendations of future architectural figures like Juan Navarro Baldeweg and Manuel de las Casas. His pedagogical and professional legacy deeply influenced Spanish architecture and was honoured in a commemorative event following his passing in 2024.