Rafael Lorente, born in Montevideo on March 21, 1940, has developed a career that combines architecture with the visual arts, demonstrating brilliance in both fields. He began his teaching activity at the Taller Bayardo and graduated as an architect in 1966 from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of the Republic, Montevideo. That same year, he won first prize in the competition for the headquarters of the Association of Bank Employees of Uruguay, in collaboration with Rafael Lorente Escudero and Juan José Lussich. Between 1971 and 1975, he served as Head of Projects and Coordinator of the Housing Sector at the Centro Cooperativista Uruguayo, and in 1982, he participated in projects at the Automobile Department of the State Insurance Bank with Conrado Pintos. Later, in 1997, he collaborated on the Liceo Francés Jules Supervielle project alongside Jorge Gibert and Fernando Giordano.
In parallel, Lorente developed his artistic vocation as a student at the Taller Torres García, under the guidance of José Gurvich and Guillermo Fernández. His artistic work includes, among others, the Monument to Justice, located in front of the Supreme Court of Justice in Montevideo. In recognition of his career, he received the Morosoli Silver Award in 2001, and in 2015, the National Museum of Visual Arts in Montevideo held a retrospective exhibition showcasing the most significant achievements of his artistic career.
As an architect, Lorente has left a significant mark on the city of Montevideo and beyond. His projects include the rehabilitation of the Centro Cultural de España (2000–2003), the Embassy and Cultural Center of Mexico (2007), and the Museo Gurvich (2015), as well as the construction of the new building for the Liceo Francés, located opposite the Buceo port. His work on the tensegrity structure in the central Plaza Fabini is also notable, demonstrating his ability to integrate functionality and formal expression.
His work has been widely recognized: Morosoli Silver Award (2001), National Architecture Award (2002), UNESCO Special Mention for Educational Architecture (2004), and First Prize for Heritage Intervention at the Quito Architecture Biennale (2006). Lorente embodies a career in which architecture and art constantly dialogue, offering significant contributions to the culture and urban landscape of Uruguay.
