CONTEMPORARY
ARCHITECTURE
Mexico City is full of history
and it has been the center
point of a nation in constant growth, as evidenced in the modern architecture
seen in the present-day capital. To fully appreciate
this, you can visit the areas
that are considered the most representative
in contemporary architecture.
Colonias Roma and Condesa ? These two
centrally located neighborhoods are known for their elegant
houses and buildings, which are art nouveau and
art deco constructions. During the beginning of
the 20th century,
around the time of the Porfirio Diaz era, Mexico?s elite lived in these buildings. In the 1920s, many of the
structures were renovated to preserve their splendor of old. Near
Parque Mexico, one of the city?s
best parks, you?ll find bookstores, art galleries and
cultural centers, among other places that have given this
part of town
such a strong artistic tradition.
Ciudad Universitaria (University City) ? Located
in southwest Mexico City off Avenida Insurgentes, between Eje 10 Sur and Anillo Pereferico. This is the campus
of the National
Autonomous University of Mexico, or
UNAM. The architecture at this university
is considered one of the
best examples of functionalism in Latin America and it
responds to the need to
create a national style with its
own identity. Many of the
buildings have murals by such renowned Mexican artists as Diego Rivera (on the university stadium), David Alfaro Siqueiros
(on the dean?s
building) and Juan O?Gorman
(on the main
library).
Corredor Reforma ? Also known as Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, the
main avenue that runs through
the city?s central areas. Along this
avenue, you can see many of
Mexico City?s most famous monuments
and modern buildings, such as the Torre Mayor, Latin America?s tallest skyscraper with 55 floors and one
of the city?s
most important modern construction projects. From there, as you head
toward downtown, you?ll come across the Fuente de la Diana Cazadora (Diana the
Hunter Fountain), where you?ll see
a bronze statue of the Roman
goddess that was designed by Vicente Mendiola and sculpted
by Juan Francisco Olaguibel. The
next sight along Reforma is the Monumento a la Independencia (The
Independence Monument), better known as The Angel. The
Angel, perched atop a Corinthian-style column, represents
the Winged Victory. At the
base of the column, depicted in feminine forms, is a sculpture featuring symbols of war, peace,
law and justice,
and beside the columns are statues of independence
heroes. Further ahead, you can admire the Cuauhtemoc Monument, a three-tiered structure with a statue depicting
the Aztec emperor hurling a spear. At the
following roundabout, you?ll see the
Christopher Columbus Monument,
made by French sculptor
Carlos Gardier; the Columbus statue stands atop a pink
Renaissance-style pedestal.
Finally, at Reforma and Avenida Juarez, you?ll find the
sculpture of El Caballito (The Little Horse),
the work of a sculptor from
the state of Chihuahua named Sebastian. The Caballito is a reference to an equestrian
statue of Carlos IV, which is in front
of the National
Art Museum in the Historic Center.
Santa Fe ? Located
on the city?s
southwest side in neighboring districts Miguel
Hidalgo and Alvaro Obregon. This is
Mexico?s most ambitious and advanced
development project. In this area, you?ll
find excellent academic institutions, such as the Iberoamericana University, as well as modern corporate buildings, such as the Calakmul and
Bosque Arcos. The high-end development project also has residential areas, such as the Tomas Moro Apartments, a structure built with strong
emphasis on space, forms and
lighting.
