Over the past two weeks, our editor has curated a collection of architectural projects from Mexico. While exploring works by Taller de Arquitectura X, we came across a remarkable project from 2006. Despite being 15 years old, this building still captivates viewers with its unique charm. At its opening ceremony in 2006, then-Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada praised it as “one of the most advanced buildings of the 21st century, destined to gain worldwide recognition.” Today, it stands as a must-visit cultural landmark in Mexico City, and we are excited to share its striking visual impact with you.
This innovative project combines a public library with a botanical garden. It features a structure made from steel bars reaching 250 meters high, concrete, and glass, all surrounded by lush greenery and flowing water elements.
The design was guided by four key principles:
- Mexico City is one of the largest, most polluted, and challenging urban environments globally. The design of public buildings must encourage the expansion of open, vehicle-free green spaces.
- The project occupies a previously vacant site.
- The combination of buildings and gardens creates a microcosm of urban ecology amidst a densely populated area.
- The library itself symbolizes humanity’s pursuit of knowledge.
The botanical garden is home to a variety of Mexican endemic plant species, creating a harmonious blend of culture and nature. This environment allows visitors to experience a peaceful coexistence between the two.
The reading areas are designed to foster a direct connection with nature, while all zones benefit from ample natural lighting and ventilation.
Technical Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Taller de Arquitectura X / Alberto Kalach
Area: 38,091 m²
Year: 2007
Photography: Alberto Kalach, Iñigo Bujedo Aguirre, Maria Gonzalez
Suppliers: Hunter Douglas, PERI, Saint-Gobain, AJAX Boiler, Aprisa, Cemex, GANEMARMOL, Porcewol by Alfher, thyssenkrupp
Competition Team: Alberto Kalach, Gustavo Lipkau, Juan Palomar, Tonatiuh Martínez
Project Team: Alberto Kalach, Emmanuel Ramírez, Ignacio del Río, Tami Tamashiro, José Luis Reyes, Héctor Módica, Bolivar Garrido, Ivan Ramírez, Gabriel Ortiz, Roland Oberhofer, Paola Acevedo, Alejandro Castañeda
Structural Engineering: Martínez Romero – EMRSA
Structural Design: Enrique Arriaga
Interior Design: Adriana León – TAX
Principal: CONACULTRA
Botanical Garden: José Ma. Buendía, Carlos Murillo, Teobaldo Eguiluz, UNAM Botanical Garden
City: Mexico City
Country: Mexico
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