The Remarkable Houses of Bello and Reborati, Montevideo, Uruguay

Bello y Reborati were no ordinary housing developers. The buildings they constructed in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo between 1921 and 1940 have become an important part of the country’s architectural heritage, and are now, thankfully, protected by law.

What makes the houses constructed by developer Ramon Bello and designer Alberto Reborati so special is that each one is unique; a work of art. As these photos show, Reborati was clearly strongly influenced by Medieval Mediterranean architecture.

During our visit to Montevideo in February, our guide Roberto (of Ciudad Vieja Tours) took us on a walking tour through Montevideo’s Pocitos neighbourhood, introducing us to more than a few Bello and Reborati properties along the way. Strolling down streets lined by their houses was a pure joy.

Sadly, increased raw material prices at the start of World War II pushed Bello and Reborati into bankruptcy with 500 projects on their books. Just think what the barrios of Montevideo might have looked like, if they’d been able to continue their remarkable work.

This post is inspired by this week’s photo challenges of Architecture from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge and  Jo’s Monday Walk.

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