Alessandro Antonelli

Alessandro Antonelli (* July 14, 1798 in Ghemme, Italy, † October 18, 1888 in Turin ) was an Italian architect and is considered an important architect of the 19th century.

Life

Studying architecture in Turin, he finished in 1824 with the engineering exam. At this he joined in 1828 to a geometry studies in Rome. In 1831 he was commissioned by the city of Novara with the general planning for the reconstruction of the city center. 1836 Antonelli took a professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts in Turin.

On his first major work, the completion of which began in the 16th century Church of San Gaudenzio in Novara, he worked since 1841. Antonelli 1878 could complete the construction with the completion of the high domed tower. In 1854, he led the rebuilding of the Cathedral of Novara.

1857 and 1862 was followed by urban planning projects for Novara and Ferrara.

Height of his creative powers is named after him Mole in Turin. In 1861 he won the competition, which had called for the Jewish community of Turin to build their synagogue. When he, the building gave rise in ever-increasing dimensions, contrary to all agreements, the Jewish community builders laid down the shaft.

As of San Gaudenzio in Novara Antonelli declined notably with the construction of the pier, the use of modern construction techniques such as reinforced concrete structure from. Because of its unusual design talent he reached enormous dimensions with the conventional masonry technique; the Mole is still the tallest brick building in the world.

Stylistically Antonelli was originally classicism at home, but turned in the wake of Turin buildings of the Baroque architect Guarino Guarini (1624-1683) to the neo-baroque.

1888, the year of completion of the breakwater, Antonelli died 90 years old in Turin.