Murcia: Business Center Metropolis Empire

**Dr.T** · January 8th, 2012, 10:14 PM

It was designed to be installed on the central platform, which today is a pedestrian bridge.

Apart from the Santa Catalina Square's obelisk, in Murcia was recovered in 2008 the monolith from King Carlos III that marked the beginning of the Camino Real de Castilla on the outskirts of the city in 1800.

There were more projects to develop obelisks in the 90. Santiago Calatrava and the municipal architect MA Beloqui were good friends. The municipal architect MA Beloqui was inspired frequently for the obelisks and spires designed by Santiago Calatrava at this time. In the 90's, the architect MA Beloqui designed the Europe Square obelisk on Murcia downtown, clearly influenced for the Telecommunications Tower designed by Santiago Calatrava on the Barcelona Olimpic Ring next to Palau San Jordi. Likewise, when the municipal architect designed Murcia Sports Hall, he expected left a plot to build in the future a small telocomunicaciones tower beside the building. To conclude, in the same way, the architect MA Beloqui has designed an unbuilt skyscraper for the City Council on the 90's, which was shaped obelisk in Las Atalayas district.

The architectural concept of the obelisk is something that is present in the minds of all Murcians, it is the first idea that suggests the tower of the Murcia Cathedral

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 8th, 2012, 11:23 PM

When was installed the obelisk in Santa Catalina Square ?

**Dr.T** · January 8th, 2012, 11:33 PM

It isn't an obelisk, is really a column dedicated to the worship of Immaculate Conception. It was installed in the plaza on December 8th, 1954.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 8th, 2012, 11:46 PM

I thought it was older !

**Dr.T** · January 9th, 2012, 12:00 AM

Certainly, the column dedicated to the worship of the Immaculate Conception is very recent in time. The reason to create this religious monument was due to be installed before the Spanish Civil War, at the bottom of the tower of the Santa Catalina parish, an ancient altarpiece dedicated to this Marian image that was very dear to all Murcia people. During the war was destroyed and in 1954 the local authorities decided to build the column to restore the public worship of the Immaculate Conception at the square.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 9th, 2012, 12:13 AM

The Baroque Palace of Contrate de la Seda sited in Santa Catalina Square was demolished in 1933, as you explained on the thread few months ago. When was built the Unión&Fenix headoffice in the former plot ?

**Dr.T** · January 9th, 2012, 12:33 AM

The Union & Phoenix headoffice was built on the site of the old baroque palace demolished in 1933, as you explain in your post. It was designed by the architect Cánovas del Castillo and finally opened in 1946.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 9th, 2012, 12:50 AM

Great ! I thought that this building was more modern, of the 60's.

**Dr.T** · January 9th, 2012, 12:57 AM

No, you're wrong. In the picture you can see the building without the column dedicated to the Immaculate Conception (installed in the Santa Catalina square in 1954). The year 1946 was a very good year for architecture in Murcia, many important buildings were inaugurated on the city.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 9th, 2012, 01:09 AM

For example...

**Dr.T** · January 9th, 2012, 01:15 AM

For example... the Banco Central Headoffice in Santo Domingo Square designed by Vicente Traver y Tomás.

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 9th, 2012, 01:19 AM

WOW !!!
Vicente Traver was one of the best architects in Seville during the first decades on the twentieth century.

**Dr.T** · January 9th, 2012, 01:49 AM

Yes, indeed. This Valencian architect (borned on the city of Castellón de la Plana) was one of the main drivers of the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville 1929. Also, he designed some very interesting buildings to bank companies, as the Banco Central headquarters in Seville (1952) and the headquarters of the Banco de Valencia in Pintor Sorolla Street (1942).

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**MURCIANICO-KID** · January 9th, 2012, 02:18 AM

Who's the architect Cánovas del Castillo ? I try to find info about him, but is not avalaible in the network.

**Dr.T** · January 9th, 2012, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by MURCIANICO-KID

Who's the architect Cánovas del Castillo ? I try to find info about him, but is not avalaible in the network.

The architect Fernando Cánovas del Castillo y de Ibarrola was comissioned by La Unión y el Fénix company to design a total of three buildings, sited in Madrid, Seville and Murcia. The most famous is the project developed by Fernando Cánovas del Castillo at Colón Square in Madrid (1959), so called today Gran Hotel Meliá Fenix. The building's lines remembers the project designed by the architect at Murcia in 1946. Also, the sculptures that crown the buildings of Murcia and Madrid, which symbolizes the kidnap of Ganymede, are identical in design.

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