The three anxieties

matter, mathematical logic, and construction in Rafael Moneo’s Bankinter

Abstract

This article aims to show, based on the project for Bankinter's headquarters, designed by Rafael Moneo between 1972-1977, how concerns about matter, construction and mathematical logic, manifest recurrently at the moment in his career. As methodology, the deductive study led to a bibliographic review of texts that demonstrate the relevance of these three theoretical aspects, especially in European and North American periodicals from the seventies, eighties and nineties. In addition, a projective analysis was constructed using redesign as an analytical tool. Throughout the analysis of Rafael Moneo’s work, it was identified that much of his production was presented in a fragmented manner – in interviews, class records and project reports – making it challenging to understand his anxieties linearly. Similarly, his architecture can be observed based on multiple fragments. Given this initial complexity in understanding it as a common whole, it would be appropriate, at least, for the production to be understood as having its origins in the three anxieties and exemplified in this projective section.