As the architectural and engineering world of the early 20^th century explored new and fascinating materials and created structural marvels throughout the world, Spain chose instead to focus largely on creating a national style which would evoke the power they had so recently lost. To do this, Spanish design looked back to the works of Roman, Muslim, and Imperial Spain, resurrecting their forms and decoration, more for their aesthetics than for their practical application.

During this time, Eduardo Torroja, an engineer by trade, began to experiment with reinforced concrete in both the common Historicist style as well as the budding Rationalist style. His work introduced Spanish architects and engineers to not only a new material, but a new way of designing buildings.

Previously, most focus on Torroja’s work has been on his advancements in Rationalist architecture. By examining first-hand accounts by Torroja, critical reviews by his peers and later commentators, and original drawings of his creations, this paper will look at his early Historicist usage of reinforced concrete. This paper intends to show how this initial use as a replacement material inspired Torroja’s future work and influenced his contemporaries to consider reinforced concrete as a primary material, contributing to the eventual progression of Spanish Rationalism.