Elena Garro Cultural Center - Fernanda Canales, Arquitectura 911sc

The project is based on the idea of highlighting the existing early 20th century house and creating an open space for a new bookstore as well as adding spaces for cultural activities. The preexistence of the house, made us take a decision to establish new volumes adjoining, butting up-against, and defining interesting relationships with the original house. A concrete frame in the front, with a glass facade brings out the books towards the street and at the same time incorporates the trees into the inside.

Photo by Jaime Navarro. Published on May 03, 2013.

From the outside the building is perceived like a great public foyer where books, vegetation and the existing house façade is exhibited, serving as a pre-amble to the rest of the program. The project is distributed in three principal blocks, the front with a triple ceiling height is almost an exterior space; the existing house, destined to be a bookstore, is converted into a transition space to the back which is the auditorium, classrooms, services, offices and parking. Most of the program is concentrated in the new block to the back of the building, which is developed in four levels.