Spain’s Modernist Architecture During the Franco Years

Streets of Madrid

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Mark Paskewitz is a longtime National Institute of Clinical Research, Inc., executive who has guided clinical development efforts for groundbreaking drugs. An avid follower of current events, Mark Paskewitz regularly reads up on news of Spain in the country’s original language. 

A recent article in the Guardian highlighted the persistent legacy of Spain’s longtime dictator Francisco Franco in the country’s contemporary culture. One of the unique aspect of the regime (which was tragic to many in other respects) was its tolerance of a wide variety of architecture. 

In addition to his imperialist ambitions, Franco considered himself an artist and embraced modernism in architecture. The striking 1949 creation of the Basilica at Arantzazu in the Basque Country represented a collaboration between architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza and sculptor Jorge Oteiza. The religious structure broke radically from papal design traditions, to the point where it was seen as a snub of Rome.

Much of the country’s architecture looked outward as fascist Spain entered a period of strategic alliance with the United States. Building styles were influenced by the technocratic Opus Dei, a lay Catholic organization, and Miguel Fisac’s Pagoda in the suburbs of Madrid is a striking example of the country’s full turn toward modernism. Demolished in 1999, the building combined raw concrete and horizontal windows in an assemblage of stacked triangular shapes, evoking the Asian pagoda. Another noteworthy concrete creation of the era was de Oiza’s Torres Blancas building, which had the visual effect of odd geometric mushrooms.

Spain Drives Eurozone Growth in First Quarter

Streets of Spain
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Clinical research executive Mark Paskewitz has an interest in international affairs. By reading news sources based in Europe, Mark Paskewitz stays informed on current events in the French- and Spanish-speaking world.

For the past five years, the Spanish economy has grown steadily. In early 2019, the southern European nation led the Eurozone in growth, with a rate of 2.5 percent.

Some drivers of the Spanish economy include tourism and green energy infrastructure. Tourism made up nearly 15 percent of Spain’s gross domestic product, and the sector is expected to grow by 2.8 percent this year.

Further, the government has pledged nearly 50 billion euros into the green energy sector in an attempt to reach carbon neutrality within 30 years. Spain also sold more than 120 billion euros in bonds to Japanese investors. While this remarkable growth helped add more than 300,000 jobs, Spain still struggles with a high unemployment rate, which hovers at 14 percent.

Spain Breaks into Top 5 on HSBC Best Countries for Expats List

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Outside of his work in clinical research, Los Angeles resident Mark Paskewitz is dedicated to improving his language ability in French and Spanish. Mark Paskewitz practices his Spanish by reading articles from Spain-based news outlets and staying informed of current events in the country.

In the latest survey of foreign workers conducted by multinational bank HSBC, Spain ranked in the top five countries for expats for the first time. Spain beat out other popular destinations such as New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany. 

The survey scores livability based on living standards, work-life balance, and career opportunities. Spain secured its spot due to high rankings in the areas of quality of life and benefits for families. Respondents also lauded the relaxed culture and stunning weather as major highlights. 

However, the country’s low salaries and limited job market landed it in 22nd place for career advancement. Foreigners in Spain earn around 50 percent less than the average expat.

Genetic Disorders - X-Linked Hypophosphatemia and Treatment

Blood extraction
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Dr. Mark Paskewitz is the vice president of clinical operations at the National Institute of Clinical Research in Los Angeles. Earlier in his career, Dr. Mark Paskewitz served as the senior director of clinical development with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, where he contributed to the creation of burosumab, the first-of-its-kind drug treatment for X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH)

When a person has XLH, their blood does not have enough phosphorus due to an underlying problem with the kidneys. Without enough phosphorus, the patient’s bones weaken. Symptoms of XLH include bow-leggedness, slow growth, and pain in the teeth, bones, and joints. 

XLH is a genetic disorder; the genes involved are essential for the proper regulation of blood phosphate. Mutated copies of these genes in patients with XLH result in the overproduction and/or persistence of a protein that prevents the kidneys from introducing phosphate into the blood. In patients with XLH, the phosphate is excreted in the urine. 

Until recently, no drug existed specifically for XLH. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved burosumab, marketed as “Crysvita,” to treat patients with the disorder. In clinical trials, Crysvita restored blood phosphate levels to normal in the vast majority of XLH patients.

Baroque Music Defined

Vice president of the National Institute of Clinical Research in Los Angeles, Mark Paskewitz is also a history buff and a classical music lover. Mark Paskewitz’ favorite style of music is baroque. 

A term that describes a period in Western European music from approximately 1600 to 1750, “baroque” is derived from the Portuguese word “barroco,” which means oddly shaped pearl. Critics applied the term to characterize the sonic qualities of a form of music that they found ornate and exaggerated. 

Drawing upon ancient Greek and Roman ideas that resurged in the preceding Renaissance period, baroque composers saw music as a powerful communication tool. Stylistic earmarks of baroque music include dramatic contrasts in volume and intensity as well as the broadening of traditional instrumental pitch and timbre. Major composers of the period include Antonio Vivaldi, Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, and George Frideric Handel.

A Look at the Maryhill Museum of Art

As vice president of the National Institute of Clinical Research in Los Angeles, Mark Paskewitz oversees the efforts of nine geographically based teams. In his spare time, Mark Paskewitz views his favorite artists' works in museums around the world.

The Maryhill Museum of Art is a lesser-known museum with an impressive collection. Its obscurity is in great part due to its isolated location on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, about 100 miles from Portland, Oregon. Additionally, the museum is only open a portion of the year, from March 15 to November 15.

The Maryhill Museum stands out among art museums for two reasons. First, as a result of its unique environment, it occupies a 5,300-acre property, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River. The grounds are meticulously cared for, with sculptures and other artworks dotting the landscape.

Second, the museum is no less impressive once you step inside. The collection boasts 80 works by Auguste Rodin, fashion mannequins from the Théâtre de la Mode, an American Indian collection with prehistoric and contemporary objects, and works by renowned Pacific Northwest artists. For fanatics of Rodin, it is a must-visit.

Yellow Vests Emerge on the French Political Landscape

Los Angeles-based Mark Paskewitz guides clinical operations at the National Institute of Clinical Research as vice president, with oversight for geographically distinct clinical research teams. An avid reader, Mark Paskewitz regularly peruses French magazines, with a focus on understanding politics and current events in France. 

One event that unfurled in France starting in November 2018 centered on the emergence of the "Yellow Vests" in the wake of an unpopular increase in gas taxes. Not tied to a political platform, this populist movement takes its name from the brightly colored safety vests that all French motorists are required to keep in their trunk in case of breakdown. 

The basic message of the Yellow Vests calls for higher salaries and lower taxes within an austerity government led by President Emmanuel Macron. The beleaguered president has instituted corporate tax reforms designed to boost outside investment at a time when economic inequalities among average citizens are increasing. A particular fracture is between the provinces and the capital city, with the demonstrations bringing Yellow Vests to the center of Paris’ luxury shopping districts.