Antonin Nechodoma
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Antonin Nechodoma (1877-1928), who is also alternatively known as Antonio Nechodoma, was a Polish architect who is called by many the father of Puerto Rican architecture.
[edit] Biography
Nechodoma was born Born in Prague, Bohemia (Poland). Since an early age, he became interested in arts, particularly architecture. He viewed buildings and other types of constructions (such as fountains, etc.) as an expression of art with which both the customer and the builder could identify,
Nechodoma went to Chicago as a youngster to work as a contractor. His experience in Chicago led him to learn much about the trade he was mostly interested in, when an architecture firm hired him later on. Nechodoma helped build many of Chicago's old structures.
Antonin Nechodoma made it clear that he was an admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, sometimes telling people that Wright himself had taught him how to design and construct buildings that would please both him and his clients. He told many people that Wright was his teacher; as time passed by, it became very unclear whether the two actually met or whether Nechodoma only said that to attract customers.
In 1905, Nechodoma returned to Puerto Rico, having being contracted a few years before by famous sugarcane owner and businessman Antonio Roig, to build a mansion for Roig in Humacao. The house would become Nechodoma's most famous and talked about construction. Roig was also a banker; Roig Bank is currently owned by Banco Popular, and Mr. Roig wanted a very well done house for him and his family.
Nechodoma created a house with wide roofs overlooking the entrance, multiple levels (a rarity in the Puerto Rico of that era), and other amenities.
The house, which is nowadays considered by critics to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest cultural achievements, is now a museum that overlooks a Walgreen's pharmacy.
With the amount of money that Roig gave him for building this house, Nechodoma was able to spend the rest of his life without needing to make any more major architectural works.
It is unclear when or where exactly Nechodoma died. Nechodoma's biography was later written by Thomas Marvel.
