Private air-raid shelters designed by architect JOAQUIN RIETA SISTER in Valencia during the Spanish Civil War.
From May 5 to May 20, 2025.
Location: North Corridor of the School of Architecture (ETSA)
From May 5 to 20, the north corridor of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura (ETSA) will host the exhibition“Private Air Raid Shelters”.an exhibition that highlights the work of the architect.Joaquín Rieta Sister during the Spanish Civil War.
The exhibition focuses on the bombardments suffered by the city of Valencia, especially after it became the capital of the Second Republic. In this context of emergency and constant threat, the urgent need to protect the civilian population arose. The exhibition panels explain the urban and social context of the time, the urgency of building air-raid shelters and the call made to the citizens to promote the building ofprivate shelters in private homes and properties.
The exhibition presents six private shelter projects designed by Joaquín Rieta Sister, highlighting both their technical and historical value. Each project on display includes details about theconstruction characteristics, materials used and safety criteria required in this type of defensive constructions.
In addition, the exhibition offers a brief introduction to Rieta Sister’s architectural work, contextualizing her career before and after the war, and highlighting her professional contribution at a time when architecture became a direct tool for survival.