Ricardo Mórtola Di Puglia (circa 1950 – 22 April 2014) was an Ecuadorian architect and businessman whose work left a visible mark on the built environment of Guayaquil and other parts of Ecuador. He is most widely recognized for his role in creating the Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, the large football stadium associated with Barcelona Sporting Club.

Biography

Mórtola was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, around 1950 and developed a professional career that combined professional practice with entrepreneurial activity. Over several decades he directed projects that spanned public, commercial and sports-related architecture. Accounts of his life describe him as a prominent local figure who contributed to large-scale construction and civic projects.

Notable projects and characteristics

Although best known for one landmark stadium, Mórtola's practice touched different building types. His designs were characterized by an emphasis on functional planning for large audiences and on structures intended to serve sporting and civic needs.

  • Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo — the stadium in Guayaquil that became his signature project.
  • Various commercial and civic developments — projects completed in Guayaquil and elsewhere that contributed to urban infrastructure.
  • Project management and construction oversight — Mórtola combined design roles with business responsibilities in building execution.

Awards and recognition

During his career he received multiple awards and professional acknowledgments for his contributions to architecture and construction. These honors reflected his visibility in the Ecuadorian building sector and his association with a number of prominent works.

Death and legacy

Mórtola died in Guayaquil on 22 April 2014 at the age of 63. Reports indicate he suffered complications from testicular cancer that led to respiratory arrest. His death was noted in Ecuadorian media and among professional circles, and the stadium that bears his involvement remains a frequently cited example of late 20th-century sports architecture in the country.

For readers seeking further information, contemporary coverage and obituaries provide additional context about his life, career and the public reception of his projects. His work continues to be discussed in conversations about stadium design and the development of urban sports facilities in Ecuador.