Alberto Palacio
Alberto de Palacio y Elissague was a Spanish engineer and architect born in Sare and grown up in Gordexola. He studied architecture in Barcelona and completed his education in Paris, studying mathematics, engineering, astronomy and medicine. He was also a student & disciple of Gustave Eiffel.
Works
Between 1890 and 1893, he worked, together with his brother Silvestre de Palacio, on his most important project, the transporter bridge on the Nervion river, between Portugalete and Getxo, for which he gained international recognition. It was the first bridge of this kind ever built.All his work is characterized for the search of the functionality and the innovation, where iron and glass play a noticeable role. He passed long seasons of work in Madrid where he:
- Participated in the construction of the Palacio de Velázquez in the Retiro Park, together with architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, coordinator of the project, and the ceramicist Daniel Zuloaga.
- Participated in the construction of the Crystal Palace in the same park, again with architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, coordinator of the project, and ceramicist Daniel Zuloaga.
- Designed and built the new Madrid Atocha railway station, in collaboration with the engineer Saint-James.
- Built the Osram factory.