The professional accumulated more than 65 years of experience and participated in road projects, public spaces and housing programs, in addition to promoting low-cost construction alternatives
SANTO DOMINGO.- Architect and urban planner Rafael Tomás Hernández Ramos passed away this Tuesday, leaving a mark on the planning and growth of Santo Domingo, a city to whose transformation he dedicated more than 65 years of professional practice.
Throughout his career, Hernández worked as an architect, urban planner, builder, researcher, and professor. During that time, he contributed to the design of important road infrastructure projects, public spaces, and residential developments that shaped the Dominican capital.
The Mayor's Office of the National District announced his passing via its Instagram account, expressing its sorrow and extending its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the professional. It also expressed its solidarity with those who shared his commitment to the city and offered prayers for his eternal rest.
A legacy for Dominican urban planning
Among his most outstanding contributions is the conception and promotion of the Santo Domingo Green Belt, an initiative aimed at preserving natural areas and promoting a more organized urban expansion.
In this regard, Hernández defended the need to establish mechanisms to contain the city's uncontrolled growth and protect ecological spaces from the encroachment of construction. This perspective was also reflected in his proposals for land-use planning and environmental protection.
Boost to affordable housing
Another significant chapter in his career was his involvement in state social housing construction programs. Between 1966 and 1978, he collaborated on initiatives that resulted in the construction of approximately 84,000 homes, an estimated average of 7,000 units per year, primarily for low-income families.
Through these actions, it helped expand access to decent and safe housing for the most disadvantaged sectors of society. It also sought to promote residential solutions that addressed the population's housing needs.
As part of that vision, he focused on researching alternative materials and methods that would reduce construction costs, with a view to facilitating the development of more economical projects.
Contributions to road infrastructure
In terms of urban mobility, Hernández Ramos participated in the planning and design of important avenues in Santo Domingo, including 27 de Febrero and Reyes Católicos, arteries that connect different sectors of Greater Santo Domingo.
Furthermore, it was linked to urban development projects carried out during the governments of Joaquín Balaguer. During that period, the capital underwent significant changes in its infrastructure and in the occupation of new territorial spaces.
Innovation in construction systems
His interest in finding affordable alternatives also extended to the field of architectural research. Among his proposals are the dome structures called CasiHogar, conceived as an option for developing lower-cost housing solutions.
This was complemented by the promotion of ecological initiatives, such as the use of a mixture of cement and newspaper to explore the possibilities of using alternative materials in construction.
In this way, their research sought to link technical innovation with the reduction of building costs and the search for answers to housing needs in the Dominican Republic.
Academic training and public service
Hernández graduated from the University of Santo Domingo in 1956 and trained alongside renowned exponents of modern Dominican architecture, such as Guillermo González and José Antonio Caro.
Subsequently, he assumed responsibilities in public administration, including the position of engineer serving the President of the Republic, a role from which he was involved in state work and the development of projects.
At the same time, he combined the practice of his profession with research and teaching, contributing to academic training and the study of the country's urban planning needs.
A trajectory linked to the transformation of the capital
The initiatives in which Rafael Tomás Hernández participated helped define part of the urban landscape of Santo Domingo. His contributions ranged from the planning of transportation routes to the construction of affordable housing and the protection of natural areas.
Overall, his career encompassed proposals for territorial planning, innovation in construction systems, and housing solutions aimed at responding to the challenges of urban growth and the social demands of the Dominican population.
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