A prominent architect of the twentieth century, Candela is remembered for designing such Mexico City landmarks as the Palacio de los Deportes and the Templo de Santa Monica. He is also well known for his work on the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia, Spain.
He graduated in 1935 from Madrid's La Escuela Superior de Arquitectura.
Construction on many of his architectural projects began during the administration of Mexican President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines.
He relocated from his native Spain to Mexico during the Spanish Civil War era and married Eladia Martin.
He and Ricardo Bofill are both well known 20th-century Spanish architects.