The profession of what came to be called the Chief Master of Works can be detected in the first historical documents, such as those of ancient Egypt, where a high court official was at the same time designer architect, director of the works and reported directly to the Pharaoh, who entrusted him with the construction of temples, palaces and even complete cities. The name of the deified figure of Imhotep has been preserved.

In Ancient Greece, the builders of the Parthenon: Phidias, Ictinus and Callicrates (under the impulse of Pericles, like the entire Athenian construction program of their time) were an example of how a multiplicity of theoretical, mathematical and artistic design, practical, coordination and execution functions were the responsibility of the same person or a team in which the functions of architect and builder were not separated, to which were added (in the case of Phidias) those of sculptor.[19]​.

In the Byzantine Empire there was a duality of professions between the architekton (builder) and the mechanikoi (the true architect).[20]​.

Since the Middle Ages, what in Latin was called magister latomus, magister caementariorum, magister operis, magister perrerius or magister lapidum ("master bricklayer", "master of builders", "master of works" or "master of stones");[21]​ in French maître d'œuvre ("master of work") and in German Baumeister, Dombaumeister, Münsterbaumeister or Zwingerbaumeister ("master builder, master builder, master builder of the cathedral or master builder of the walls") was both the author of an architectural project and the one who directed the construction. The texts mention the work of monks and laymen in the works. In 1145, Saint Bernard sent to the founder of Perseigne (William, Count of Alençon) twelve monks, two novices and twenty-one laymen, under the direction of Abbot Erard, to assist in the construction of the abbey. The expertise of the Cistercians in construction was proverbial. The monk Henri (Henry) was the master builder of Marienfeld in 1248. In Doberan, four monks: Rether, Siegebod, Ludolf and Henri, succeeded one another in this role between 1243 and 1298. The master builder of the time was at the same time a bricklayer, a stonemason, a sculptor, a designer and a calculator; training in all these skills in the works of the cathedrals. The names of eleven maîtres specialized in military architecture under Philippe-Auguste (beginning of the century) are cited.[22] The drawings of Villard de Honnecourt (around 1230) are very significant of the wide range of interests of this type of professional (in addition to notes on the cathedrals he visited, he included technical studies of masonry, carpentry and mechanics).

In the medieval European city, constructions usually lacked previous projects and arose from a congenital of sculptural, architectural and constructive arts in a "manual" way. Generally, no more than three or four people were involved in the works, with the exception of teams of specialized craftsmen (stonemasons, carpenters, etc.); and their extension occurred spontaneously, driven more by a practical sense than by an architectural or artistic sense.[23] Starting in the Late Middle Ages, conscious planning of buildings and the increasing professionalization of the construction trades, regulated by guilds, became increasingly common.

The social recognition of master builders increased, even occasionally granting the title of "doctor of stonemasonry" (equivalent to university degrees). They were allowed to sign their works and bury themselves in them, representing them in effigy (to distinguish them from the artisans, they were not only represented with the instruments of their trade - ruler, square, compass or model - but also with a hat and doublet).[24]

The names of many major masters of the works of medieval cathedrals are preserved, such as Ramon Llambard of the Seo de Urgel, those of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Bernardo the Elder), Master Esteban and Master Mateo), Guillermo Bofill of the Cathedral of Gerona or Anton Pilgram") of the Vienna Cathedral. Some contracts for non-cathedral works are also preserved (Arnau Bargués was the magister domorum for the construction of the royal palace of the Poblet monastery).

The guild of builders, masons or masons, characterized like all other guilds by internal solidarity, initiation rites and the preservation of trade secrets, was used as a precedent for the creation of modern Freemasonry starting in the 19th century, an institution completely unrelated to construction, beyond its symbology.

Henrik Ibsen wrote the drama Bygmester Solness") in 1892 (translated into German as Baumeister Solneß -"The Master Builder Solness"-, into English as The Master Builder -"The Master Builder"- and into French as Solness le constructeur -"Solness the Builder"-).[25] In Spanish it has been translated as "The Master Builder", "The Master Builder Solness" or "The master contractor".[26]​.

The character Tom Builder"), protagonist of The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett, 1989), exercises in that historical novel a construction trade of a very generic nature, typical of the state of such trades in the 20th century, identifiable with the mastery of works as well as with architecture and masonry.

Land of the Pharaohs") (Howard Hawks, 1955), a historical film scripted by William Faulkner (among others), describes the vicissitudes of the construction of a pyramid, commissioned by Vashtar, a wise man belonging to an enslaved foreign people.[27]​.

The office of master builder is attributed to Saint Jerome, both in its constructive and spiritual aspects (the works of mercy). The iconographic references of some pictorial works allude to this condition.[28]​.

Contenido

Hoy día, puede conocerse al maestro mayor de obras también como "jefe de obra", que no es necesariamente un actor en la construcción de una obra, pero sí tiene injerencia sobre todos los que actúan en ella.

Su descendente directo ha sido el Ingeniero de Edificación.

Training

The master of works, or senior master, is a technician specialized in construction, who has comprehensive training and specific knowledge about construction processes" and design of construction systems") appropriate to the executed project.

Essentially, he receives technical instruction that gives him fundamental knowledge and concepts that allow him to actively participate, and even be the author of the non-artistic design part, of building projects, without another professional intervening in it.

In Argentina, the training of the Senior Master of Works is regulated by the Vocational Technical Education Law No. 26,058 enacted in 2005. This law mandates Vocational Technical Education in general at the non-university secondary and higher level of the national educational system.

It covers different technical modalities, among which is that of Senior Master of Works.

It is detailed in article 4 that "Professional Technical Education promotes in people the learning of capabilities, knowledge, abilities, skills, values ​​and attitudes related to professional performances and professionalism criteria typical of the socio-productive context, which allow us to know reality from systematic reflection on practice and the systematized application of theory."[29]​.

A fundamental aspect that is highlighted in the regulations is that the substantial purpose of vocational training is to develop and update young people's abilities for work, regardless of previous training, and to this end, educational processes must be guaranteed that allow the internalization of scientific-technological knowledge and the development of the professional and social skills essential to perform satisfactorily in the world of work.

The body in charge of promoting the quality of professional technical education and ensuring the continuous adaptation of the educational offer to social and productive demands in the INET "National Institute of Technological Education.[30]​.

Vocational Technical Education Law.

The profession of what came to be called the Chief Master of Works can be detected in the first historical documents, such as those of ancient Egypt, where a high court official was at the same time designer architect, director of the works and reported directly to the Pharaoh, who entrusted him with the construction of temples, palaces and even complete cities. The name of the deified figure of Imhotep has been preserved.

In Ancient Greece, the builders of the Parthenon: Phidias, Ictinus and Callicrates (under the impulse of Pericles, like the entire Athenian construction program of their time) were an example of how a multiplicity of theoretical, mathematical and artistic design, practical, coordination and execution functions were the responsibility of the same person or a team in which the functions of architect and builder were not separated, to which were added (in the case of Phidias) those of sculptor.[19]​.

In the Byzantine Empire there was a duality of professions between the architekton (builder) and the mechanikoi (the true architect).[20]​.

Since the Middle Ages, what in Latin was called magister latomus, magister caementariorum, magister operis, magister perrerius or magister lapidum ("master bricklayer", "master of builders", "master of works" or "master of stones");[21]​ in French maître d'œuvre ("master of work") and in German Baumeister, Dombaumeister, Münsterbaumeister or Zwingerbaumeister ("master builder, master builder, master builder of the cathedral or master builder of the walls") was both the author of an architectural project and the one who directed the construction. The texts mention the work of monks and laymen in the works. In 1145, Saint Bernard sent to the founder of Perseigne (William, Count of Alençon) twelve monks, two novices and twenty-one laymen, under the direction of Abbot Erard, to assist in the construction of the abbey. The expertise of the Cistercians in construction was proverbial. The monk Henri (Henry) was the master builder of Marienfeld in 1248. In Doberan, four monks: Rether, Siegebod, Ludolf and Henri, succeeded one another in this role between 1243 and 1298. The master builder of the time was at the same time a bricklayer, a stonemason, a sculptor, a designer and a calculator; training in all these skills in the works of the cathedrals. The names of eleven maîtres specialized in military architecture under Philippe-Auguste (beginning of the century) are cited.[22] The drawings of Villard de Honnecourt (around 1230) are very significant of the wide range of interests of this type of professional (in addition to notes on the cathedrals he visited, he included technical studies of masonry, carpentry and mechanics).

In the medieval European city, constructions usually lacked previous projects and arose from a congenital of sculptural, architectural and constructive arts in a "manual" way. Generally, no more than three or four people were involved in the works, with the exception of teams of specialized craftsmen (stonemasons, carpenters, etc.); and their extension occurred spontaneously, driven more by a practical sense than by an architectural or artistic sense.[23] Starting in the Late Middle Ages, conscious planning of buildings and the increasing professionalization of the construction trades, regulated by guilds, became increasingly common.

The social recognition of master builders increased, even occasionally granting the title of "doctor of stonemasonry" (equivalent to university degrees). They were allowed to sign their works and bury themselves in them, representing them in effigy (to distinguish them from the artisans, they were not only represented with the instruments of their trade - ruler, square, compass or model - but also with a hat and doublet).[24]

The names of many major masters of the works of medieval cathedrals are preserved, such as Ramon Llambard of the Seo de Urgel, those of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Bernardo the Elder), Master Esteban and Master Mateo), Guillermo Bofill of the Cathedral of Gerona or Anton Pilgram") of the Vienna Cathedral. Some contracts for non-cathedral works are also preserved (Arnau Bargués was the magister domorum for the construction of the royal palace of the Poblet monastery).

The guild of builders, masons or masons, characterized like all other guilds by internal solidarity, initiation rites and the preservation of trade secrets, was used as a precedent for the creation of modern Freemasonry starting in the 19th century, an institution completely unrelated to construction, beyond its symbology.

Henrik Ibsen wrote the drama Bygmester Solness") in 1892 (translated into German as Baumeister Solneß -"The Master Builder Solness"-, into English as The Master Builder -"The Master Builder"- and into French as Solness le constructeur -"Solness the Builder"-).[25] In Spanish it has been translated as "The Master Builder", "The Master Builder Solness" or "The master contractor".[26]​.

The character Tom Builder"), protagonist of The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett, 1989), exercises in that historical novel a construction trade of a very generic nature, typical of the state of such trades in the 20th century, identifiable with the mastery of works as well as with architecture and masonry.

Land of the Pharaohs") (Howard Hawks, 1955), a historical film scripted by William Faulkner (among others), describes the vicissitudes of the construction of a pyramid, commissioned by Vashtar, a wise man belonging to an enslaved foreign people.[27]​.

The office of master builder is attributed to Saint Jerome, both in its constructive and spiritual aspects (the works of mercy). The iconographic references of some pictorial works allude to this condition.[28]​.

Contenido

Hoy día, puede conocerse al maestro mayor de obras también como "jefe de obra", que no es necesariamente un actor en la construcción de una obra, pero sí tiene injerencia sobre todos los que actúan en ella.

Su descendente directo ha sido el Ingeniero de Edificación.

Training

The master of works, or senior master, is a technician specialized in construction, who has comprehensive training and specific knowledge about construction processes" and design of construction systems") appropriate to the executed project.

Essentially, he receives technical instruction that gives him fundamental knowledge and concepts that allow him to actively participate, and even be the author of the non-artistic design part, of building projects, without another professional intervening in it.

In Argentina, the training of the Senior Master of Works is regulated by the Vocational Technical Education Law No. 26,058 enacted in 2005. This law mandates Vocational Technical Education in general at the non-university secondary and higher level of the national educational system.

It covers different technical modalities, among which is that of Senior Master of Works.

It is detailed in article 4 that "Professional Technical Education promotes in people the learning of capabilities, knowledge, abilities, skills, values ​​and attitudes related to professional performances and professionalism criteria typical of the socio-productive context, which allow us to know reality from systematic reflection on practice and the systematized application of theory."[29]​.

A fundamental aspect that is highlighted in the regulations is that the substantial purpose of vocational training is to develop and update young people's abilities for work, regardless of previous training, and to this end, educational processes must be guaranteed that allow the internalization of scientific-technological knowledge and the development of the professional and social skills essential to perform satisfactorily in the world of work.

The body in charge of promoting the quality of professional technical education and ensuring the continuous adaptation of the educational offer to social and productive demands in the INET "National Institute of Technological Education.[30]​.

Vocational Technical Education Law.