Fernanda Canales Architecture

Elena Garro Cultural Centre

Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre

Elena Garro Cultural Centre

Fernanda Canales, Arquitectura 911sc

ARCHITECTS
Fernanda Canales, Arquitectura 911sc

YEAR
2012

LOCATION
Mexico City, Mexico

TYPE
Commercial › Retail , Cultural › Cultural Center , Educational › Library

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.

Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre

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.

Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre

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.

Elena Garro Cultural Centre


Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre


Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre


Elena Garro Cultural Centre


Elena Garro Cultural Centre
Elena Garro Cultural Centre

Fernanda Canales Architecture
Fernanda Canales Architecture
Real del Bosque, 43994 Sahagun City, Hgo., Mexico