In March 1939 a presidential decree authorized to the Flag Memorial National Commission calling a contest of plans and budgets for the execution of the so longed memorial.
The contest was itself an important event, not only by the convener reason but also by the technical and artistic level of the contestants
Must not have been easy fot the Jury to make a decision because only one could be chosen.
Today, also, we can see evidence that show us how the artist's creativity looking at each of the different possibilities the clearest expression, the most perfect representation, the best way to convey what he feels.
Contest requirements established the following conditions for the candidates:
1) They could only take part argentine or foreign architects and sculptors with citizenship
2) Each draft should be made at least by an architect and a sculptor
3) The style, ideological interpretation and technical, were drawn to the artistic inspiration of the authors and required that the characters and emblems were comes to the term with the historical reality.
4) Argentine materials would be preferably employed
5) The making of the pieces and sculptures were made entirely in the country
6) An amount of $1.000.000 was set as the limit for its realization
7) Each draft should be presented with a plane set, location, access and gardening of the park, plans of the front and of the floors and should be accompany with mock-ups: one for the whole (memorial and park) Scale: 1:200 and another of the memorial Scale 1:25
8) They must present a sculptural detail in gypsum of an interesting theme
9) Each draft should be presented under a slogan that summarize their proposal. One descriptive report also should be presented
The deadline for submission would expiring on on 30.06.1940, at 16 pm. at the place which “will indicate opportunely
The Jury
The Jury was made up of members of the Pro Flag Memorial Commission whose Presidente was the Minister of the Interior, the Doctor Miguel Culaciati, a member of the National Directorate of Architecture, a member of the National Academy of History- Ricardo Levene- a member of the National Academy of Fine Arts and a representative of the National Culture Commission.
Fourth prize: Motto AGORA DOREA
Architects: Ermete de Lorenzi, Vicente Otaola, Aníbal SCULPTORS: Gonzalo Leguizamón Pondal, Carlos de la Cárcova.
Simbology: The memorial as a whol form a temple, which elements, of classic inspiration, como toghether to exalt the spiritual content of the Flag, driver and synthesis of the nationality.
First mention: Motto ALTAR AND MUSEUM
Architects: Carlos Navratil SCULPTORS: Osvaldo Alberto Carlos Lauersdorf
Simbology: Memorial which expresses with majesty and simplicity the hsitoric fact of the Flag creation, through a tower which represents it and as only sculptural image the Homeland. A bas-relief in the front tells the story from the Conquest to the present day and the development of national life and its progress. Second mention: Motto PROW
Architects: Benito Gilardón, Daniel Igartúa, Mauricio Repossini, Alberto Siperman. SCULPTOR: Bartolomé Tasso
Simbology: To represent the Flag ideally, as a permanent symbol of our nationality, at the same place it was hoisted for the first time. Represent jointly the ideals she wrap up, as a true expression of Freedom, Peace, Work and Justice
Third mention: Motto DELTA
Architect: Francisco Squirru SCULPTOR: Francisco Finochiaro
Simbology: The main allegory represents the Nation in motion, managed by the Homeland figure, raising the Progress torch under the protection of the National Flag. A high relief stand out the Belgrano figure hoisting the Flag at the fort of the ravines under the dedication of the Rosario Virgin. Space where argentines attend to pay tribute to the creators of Nationality and swear by the whishes to perpetúate the Greatness and Freedom of our land.
Motto: AGORA
Architects: Hilarión Hernández Larguía, Juan Manuel Newton SCULPTOR Lucio Emilio Fontana. Simbology: Project that includes the figure of a woman with a phrygian cap as symbol of our nationality. Are represented Freedom and Independence batteries, as well as representative historical facts of the May Revolution and of the Independence Declaration. A sculptural group formed by a human figure and two horses, represents the man that leads us towards the high destiny of a higher aspiration
Motto: Light Blue and White
Architects: Hilarión Hernández Larguía, Juan Manuel Newton SCULPTOR Lucio Emilio Fontana. Simbology: The flagpole, ends in a sun on which the mast rises. The sculptural group corresponding to the base of the flagpole, is formed by two winged horses which escort the figure of the Republic symbolizing the nation in action of march Motto: EMBLEM
Architect: Angel Gasparutti SCULPTOR Roberto Braeckman
Simbology The sacred place of cult to the Flag of the Homeland. Civil temple open to the light and the life, to the freedom and the respect, that reflects the historic march of the new and glorious Nation, in all its social and political significance. Motto: EPOS
Architect: Jorge Suáres Araujo SCULPTOR Pablo Tosto.
Simbology: Represents the historical events which prepared the moment of creation and swear of the Flag,and also an altar for the safe-keeping of the Flag Homeland. The frontal group represent the Pledge of Allegiance, with the equestrian figure of Manuel Belgrano holding the flag high and the soldiers and the people swearing it.
Motto: Alter of the Motherland II
Architect: Adrián D. Locati SCULPTOR Juan Zuretti
Simbology: The draft, creates a composition of large staircases which give a great enhancement to the monumental temple, is an integrated set of three well defined parts, with a harmonic internal logic. With a strong emotional and symbolic meaning for their authors. Idea of Angel F. Guido and Alejandro Bustillo
The authors of the Project, the architects Alejandro Bustillo and Angel F. Guido and the sculptors Alfredo Bigatti and José Fioravanti, presented at the Drafts Competition Jury, as was demanded by the requiements, a Descriptive Report, which expressed the whole meaning of the work. Many aspects of the plans and models presented had to be modified according to the available funds and the changes in the technical details suggested by the Pro Memorial Commission
Descriptive Report- Motto “Invicta” IDEOLOGY
We must explain briefly the ideology supported in our work that we present under the motto "Invicta”.
The lines which serve as a prologue to this report contain the symbolism of the monument.
“Ideal caravel” we say with the prow cleaving the giants Oceans of America. As can be inferred goes in this the idealization of the geography. We could say that it is the expression of the geographical map of our Argentina. We say to the Atlantida- port and start. That’s mean, towards the American Chimera, towards the formation of an authentically American people, free from the spiritual hegemony of Europe. The vigorous and agile prow, the gesture, of our argentine dream, who is also from all over America.
"To all harbours of the earth will come the heroic freedom message of Human justice”. We repeat this deeply and pressing argentine message in these difficult times of the world.
Such is, in a few lines, the fundamental symbolismof th Flag Memorial which couldn’t be also the Homeland Memorial.