Riccardo Brayda – Wikipedia

Riccardo Brayda (Genoa, 27 December 1849- Turin, 11 October 1911) was an Italian architect and engineer, a medieval Piedmontese art and architecture, known above all for his contribution to the medieval village of Turin and the construction of some buildings in the ex- Capital of Italy.

Benedetto Riccardo Brayda, known as Riccardo Brayda, was born in Genoa in 1849. After graduating in civil engineering in 1874, at the Royal School of application for engineers (today Polytechnic of Turin) in Valentino, he integrates his teacher body in 1879, At first as an assistant by Giovanni Angelo Reyscend and later as a professor help. For 25 years, until 1892, he deals with the dedication of the chair of architecture. It retires definitively from university teaching in 1901 to devote himself to public life and the profession of architect. ^{[first] [2]}

Architect [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

From a young man Brainda carries out the activity of architect as a freelancer: he builds some buildings in Turin, including the house in Corso Siccardi of the “General Association of Workers in Turin” and the Palazzo Giaccone on the OPORE COURSE (today Corso Matteotti), on the south corner of the Vinzaglio Corso. ^[2]

The projects of the City Hospice of Turin, the building for the Italian General Exhibition of 1884 and the research and reconnaissance carried out to find the repertoire of the buildings to be reproduced in the medieval village, of which it will will be coordinator of the works under the supervision are his own by Alfredo d’Andrade. ^[first] He also dedicates himself with passion to the study of medieval art, “lending his assiduous, disinterested work, to all the works for the construction in 1893-94 and re-adaptation in 1910 of the Castle and Borgo Mediovale, pride of Turin” ^[2] .

In the last years of his life, the engineer dedicated himself to the study and the restoration of the Palatine doors of the Roman era and those for the medieval facade of the church of San Domenico, during which it is injured by falling from a bridge. ^[2] Brainda also owes the restoration of the Mastio of the Citadel of Turin, the plaque dedicated to Filippo Juvarra in Superga and the provisional building of the panorama of the Battle of Turin of 1706 at Valentino for the bicentenary of the siege. ^[2]

Councilor [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

In the obituary that Francesco Corradini dedicates him ^[3] It is described as a “perfect gentleman, of a good impression, passionate artist and archaeologist” and popular in Turin. Since March 1896, for 15 years, he sits on the city council; He is elected city councilor for construction from 1902 to 1903, from 1905 to 1907, and from 1910 to 1911. ^[2]

In the guise of councilor of the Municipality Riccardo Brayda stimulates the city building development, dealing with the construction of new school buildings for elementary schools, for the Female Higher Institute in Piazza Venezia and for the professional institute worker; In the latter institute he also holds the position of vice-president of the Board of Directors. ^[2] It gives impulse to the projects for the Royal Astronomical Observatory in Pino Torinese and for the construction of new buildings, such as those of mail and telegraphs, telegraphs, war school and the inquiries of finance and for the overcome of via Roma. ^[2]

Also in the sits of Councilor for Construction Coopera with the construction of some bridges on the Dora Baltea, including the Monumental Bridge Umberto I and the related four bronze ornamental groups, at the inauguration of which he wants to attend in September 1911, although already very deployed . ^[2] During his mandates to prevent the remains of the Roman town from going lost and replaced by modern buildings, he had transported several capitals and tombstones to his home in Villarbasse in his home in Villarbasse.
Despite the disease, in the last days of his life he continues to deal with the building destined to welcome the new Polytechnic, hoping to free the spaces of the Valentino Castle from the school classrooms very functional and allow it to be a historical and artistic reuse. ^{[2] [4]}

Other activities and assignments [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Riccardo Brayda also makes its contribution to the “Piedmontese building cooperative company” holding the position of president: under its presidency the buildings of the cooperative pass from a value of 250,000 L. in 1908 to about 2 million lire for new homes, more Salubri and modest, from the two-year period 1910-1911. ^[2]

As a guide of the Torinese hikers union, it organizes numerous trips “vulgarizing the artistic beauties of our country”. ^[2]

Attentive to the public charity, he is vice-president of the Turin Children’s Hospital and President of the childhood kindergarten of Villarbasse, a municipality of origin of his family. ^[2]

Brayda also holds other positions during her life: she is president of the “Pro Superga” association, active member of the “Messina and Reggio Calabria earthquake committee”, government inspector for the conservation of national monuments, member of the executive commission of the Turin International Exhibition of 1911, member of the Albertina Academy, of the Archeology Society and several municipal commissions, is a councilor of the direction of the Civic Museum of Turin. ^[2] He is a member, councilor and vice-president for twenty years of the “company of engineers and architects in Turin”, from 1876 to 1896. ^[2]

The death [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Appreciated and popular in the environment of the Turin engineers and architects and beyond, assignment of numerous merits including the title of Commendatore ^{[ without source ]} , Riccardo Brayda is according to Corradini a “citizen in the highest of conceptions”: at his death, which took place on 11 October 1911, he received “from his Turin the well -deserved tribute of gratitude” with an imposing and participated funeral procession. ^[2]

Riccardo Brayda is buried in the family crypt, in Villarbasse.

Riccardo Brayda, married, had four children. ^[2]

Of prolific pen, Brayda writes numerous works: in 1879 he published Sacken-brayda architecture styles , version from the German with notes and additions of the classic work of the archaeologist Eduard von Sacken (Vienna, March 3, 1825- Vienna, February 20, 1883), a volume that has a great diffusion among young students from the time. ^[2] In 1887 he published I remember an artistic walk in Sant’Antonio di Ranverso , accurate brochure on the Middle Ages in Val di Susa. ^[2] In 1892 a volume of eighth was released, Of some Turin Medioval Houses , therefore in 1898 a fourth booklet, The palace of the Municipality in Turin . ^[2]

Subsequently, in collaboration with the Rondolino, it gives the print The medieval buildings of Villarbasse , The church of San Domenico in Turin and various architecture studies, including Astigiana towers and medieval houses and houses , The surroundings of Turin , The bishop’s house , Artistic visit to the Castelli di Rivara, the route and the Gorra and Carignano , Artistic visit to Candelo, Gaglianico and Biella , The high valsusa , To crypta di Sant’anastasio d’Asti It is Studies and frescoes in the Royal Castello del Valentino . ^[2]

For the complete bibliography, please refer to the catalog of the National Library Service.

• Micaela Viglino Dadico, Benedetto Riccardo Brayda. A nineteenth -century re -proposed of the Middle Ages , Turin, Piedmontese Study Center, 1984.