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fernando romero

Wrapping

fernando romero Wrapping

source: archdaily
The Soumaya Museum is part of a large scale mixed-use urban development on the edge of the district of Polanco, one of the most exclusive areas of Mexico City. It is located on a former industrial zone dating from the 1940’s which today presents a very high commercial potential. The Soumaya Museum plays a key role in the reconversion of the area: as a preeminent cultural program, it acts as an initiator in the transformation of the urban perception. Moreover, its institutional status activates the public space with functionalities other than commercial and grants the new neighborhood the urban intensity it required.

In order to create a new identity for the site, the building needed to acquire a strong urban presence. Thus, the Soumaya Museum was conceived as a sculptural building that is both unique and contemporary. Its avant-garde morphology and typology define a new paradigm in the history of Mexican and international architecture.

From the outside, the building is an organic and asymmetrical shape that is perceived differently by each visitor, while reflecting the diversity of the collection on the inside. Indeed, the work to be exposed contains amongst others the second biggest collection of Rodin sculptures in the world, several authors of Medieval and Renaissance art, as well as impressionist painters.

This heterogeneous collection is housed in a continuous exhibition space spread over six levels, representing approximately 6,000 m2. The building also includes an auditorium for 350 people, library, offices, a restaurant, a gift shop and a multi-purpose gathering lounge.

The shell of the building is constructed with 28 steel curved columns of different diameters, each with its own geometry and shape, offering the visitor a soft non-linear circulation all through the building. Located at each floor level, seven ring beams provide a system that braces the structure and guarantees its stability. The top floor is the most generous space of the Museum; its roof is suspended from an impressive cantilever that allows natural daylight to flow in freely. In contrast, the building’s envelope is nearly opaque, offering little and scarce openings to the outside. This gesture can be interpreted as an intention to create a protected shelter for the art collection. The façade is made of hexagonal aluminum modules that optimize the preservation and durability of the entire building.
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source: fr-eeorg
FR-EE is a global architecture and industrial design firm founded by Fernando Romero with offices in New York (industrial design only) and Mexico City (architecture and design).

An active agent in the reconfiguration of site and public space, FR-EE’s commitment to translating historic, social, economic and environmental contexts into contemporary urban destinations has garnered critical attention and attracted millions of visitors, generating positive impact in cities and communities. Over the past 15 years, FR-EE has realized and proposed projects in a number of countries that encompass different programs and contexts, from museums and office buildings to dense urban centers and the desert.

Fernando Romero, Hon. FAIA is recognized as one of the leading architects of his generation. He was named a Global Leader of Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum in 2002, one of the 50 Most Influential Designers by Fast Company in 2012 and became an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2013. His many accolades include the Bauhaus Award and the ‘Best of the Best’ Red Dot Award.