Enrique Nieto (architect)

Enrique Nieto
Enrique Nieto
Born	October 6, 1883
Died	January 20, 1954 (aged 70)
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Architect

Enrique Nieto y Nieto (October 6, 1880 or 1883 – January 20, 1954) was a Spanish architect known for his Modernisme style (not to be confused with modernism), which he continued to receive commissions to design even after it fell out of favor. He was a student of Antoni Gaudí and followed his master's style when he designed noted projects in Barcelona and Melilla. In 1939, he was appointed city architect of Melilla, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. Mellila's collection of modernisme-style buildings constitutes the second largest concentration of representatives of the style outside of Barcelona.

Places of worship

Nieto designed the main synagogue, Or Zaruah (or Holy Light^[1]) synagogue in 1924, the Central Mosque, and several buildings for the Catholic Church in Melilla.^[2]^[3]

Other buildings

Art Nouveau was the driving force of Melilla's architecture during the first half of the 20th century. Brought to Melilla^[2] by Enrique Nieto, the style is deeply rooted in a city which was overcome with floral ornamentation. From that moment on, Melilla promoted a style that managed to take root and progress, changing all that had been built in the city before. Plants, flowers, animals and women's faces filled the Art Nouveau façades, in which the brown and cream colour ranges brought out the ornaments. Nieto is cited for receiving design inspiration from the noted Mezquita de Córdoba (Cordoba mosque).^[4]

His notable work also includes the La Reconquista and Palacio Municipal (later renamed Autonomous City Palace^[5]) in Plaza de Europa.^[6] Nieto designed the National Theatre and Cinema building in Melilla in the 1920s which has a more geometrical style than most modernisme designs.^[5]

He retired in 1949 and died of a heart attack five years later.^[7]