Heliodoro Dols Morell, architect of Torreciudad, and master architect, died today in Zaragoza at the age of 91. In his long professional career, the quality of his architecture has become more evident with the passing of time.
Precisely this year, Javier Domingo de Miguel has published a book entitled 'Heliodoro Dols. Tradition, authenticity, modernity', in which he explains in a pleasant and exhaustive way his entire professional career.
A native of Madrid by training and Aragonese by adoption, he was a member of the CX class of the Madrid School of Architecture, graduating in 1959. Among others, Fernando Higueras, Curro Inza, Miguel de Oriol, Eduardo Mangada, Luis Peña Ganchegui and Manolo Jorge.
National Architecture Award
Next to Antonio LopezIn 1965, Heliodoro won the National Architecture Prize with the design of a fountain in the monumental square of Pedraza. Between 1963 and 1975 he devoted himself almost exclusively to the Torreciudad project, so Dols took up residence in Zaragoza in 1973. His work has been developed mainly in Aragon.
Work in Torreciudad: "to do something for the Mother of God".
About his work in Torreciudad, Heliodoro wrote: "The five years spent on site were an extraordinary experience, both professionally and in human terms. I tried to make it human in size, I liked to do something for the Mother of God and I tried to put my affection in the study of the assemblies of those stones and bricks".
St. Josemaría: "with humble material, you have made divine material".
"Thanks to all the people who collaborated there, Torreciudad could be built. And thanks to the commitment, care and affection they put into its construction, it became a reality. This was the reason why St. Josemaría, the founder of Opus Dei, told us when he saw it finished: with humble material, from the earth, you have made divine material," said Heliodoro Dols.
The quality of Torreciudad's architecture has been endorsed by architects such as César Ortiz-Echagüe, Antonio Lamela, Francesc Mitjans, Regino Borobio Ojeda and Fernando Chueca Goitia, among others. It is a project based on the tradition and popular architecture of Aragon. A complex and organic project whose identity is achieved through the use of ceramic materials typical of the region, seeking, on the scale of the landscape, to emulate the surrounding villages.
Torreciudad's contribution
"The great contribution of Torreciudad is the beautiful agreement between an architecture of undeniable modern affiliation and a more traditional setting," said the Sanctuary.
"It is certainly the most important work of his career, but not the only one. There is the Colegio Mayor Peñalba -a true brick sculpture-, the restoration of the basilica of Santa Engracia and the houses and square of San Bruno in Zaragoza". Also "the building for ERZ in Jaca -today headquarters of the Jacetania region-, the Courts building in Boltaña and the convent of Carmelitas Descalzas in Huesca. In 2014, the Fernando el Católico Institution awarded him the distinction for his professional career".
