Alberto Prebisch

Who was Alberto Prebisch?

Alberto Prebisch was a distinguished Argentine architect whose numerous works included private houses, apartment and office blocks, cinemas, shops and banks. His brother Raúl Prebisch was a well-known economist.

Prebisch was born in Tucumán, Argentina, to German settlers and studied in the School of Architecture at the University of Buenos Aires, graduating in 1921. He earned renown in 1924 with his design for the Tucumán Central Market, and among his many works, he is probably best known for the iconic Obelisk and the Rationalist Teatro Gran Rex, both in Buenos Aires, as well as for the Gran Rex Cinema in Rosario.

He was appointed Dean of the School of Architecture of the University of Buenos Aires in 1955 and, in 1962–63, served as interim Mayor of Buenos Aires. Returning to the School of Architecture as Dean in 1968, he was named Director of the National Fine Arts Academy in 1970, and died months later in that capacity at age 71.