La Laguna Cathedral: a Pioneer Work in the Use of Reinforced Concrete in Spain, 1904-1913

Abstract

In 1904 begins the process to rebuild the Cathedral of La Laguna. The lack of architects with enough knowledge of the reinforced cement technique forced to the Cathedral Council to hire a military engineer. Lieutenant Rodrigo-Valllla takes on the challenge of designing and building a temple in reinforced concrete, becoming thee pioneer his technique in the Canary Islanndds. The cathedral could be done in record time, only eighhtt years. The shortages of coating thicknesses, an inadequate concrete work and an incorrect maintenanccee forced its demolition . This pioneering work a century after finishedd opened the way to reinforced con nccrete in the Canary Islands.