San Petersburgo, una ciudad creativa en tiempos del zar Alejandro I. La aportación a la arquitectura y al urbanismo del ingeniero español Agustín de Betancourt

Abstract

espanolEl objetivo de este trabajo consiste en ofrecer un nuevo enfoque sobre el ingeniero, arquitecto e inventor espanol Agustin de Betancourt (1758-1824) desde una perspectiva global dentro del contexto historico de la Ilustracion y la Revolucion Industrial. Analizaremos su perfil personal y profesional, asi como la relacion compleja que mantuvo con el zar Alejandro I entre 1808 y 1824. Contribuyo al desarrollo urbano, industrial y cultural de Rusia, y en especial de San Petersburgo, que se convirtio en las primeras decadas del siglo xix en uno de los nucleos urbanos mas esplendidos y armoniosos de Europa. Rusia fue su patria de adopcion, donde tuvo que exiliarse por motivos profesionales y politicos, pero siempre se mantuvo unido a sus origenes canarios hasta su muerte. Se le considero uno de los mejores ingenieros de la Europa de su tiempo, y con el nacio la ingenieria civil en Espana y en Rusia, donde se le considera un heroe. EnglishThe objective of this study is to offer a new approach to the Spanish engineer, architect, and inventor Agustin de Betancourt (1758-1824), from a global perspective within the historical context of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. We will analyze his personal and professional profile, as well as the complex relationship that remained with the Tsar Alexander I between 1808 to 1824. He contributed to the urban planning, industrial, and cultural development of Russia, and specially of St. Petersburg, that became the first decades of the 19th century in one of the most splendid and harmonious European towns. Russia was his adoption country where he had to go into exile due professional and political reasons, but he always remained attached to his Canary Islands origins until his death. He was considered one of the best engineers in the Europe of his time, and with him was born civil engineering in Spanish and Russian where he is considered a hero.