The Foundation, created in 2010, begins this stage by inaugurating this new space in Jardines del Pedregal for its new project that expands the scope of the Fundación Alumnos following its line of research, thought and education linked to art.
The space shares a collection of more than 300 works by national and international artists such as Damián Ortega, Carl Andrè, Torolab, Dr. Lakra, Brian Eno, Francis Alys, etc. in addition to a good collection of books and spaces for the complete development of an extensive program of activities linked to these spaces.
The implementation of the program and the use of the pre-existing structure were the starting point for the materialization of this project that connects visually with its surroundings through a sequence of patios, to go from being an abandoned industrial structure that offered an irrelevant facade to the property, to become the main body of it.
In the set, tradition and contemporaneity are mixed through the use of materials and light. A floating facade of vitro block welcomes us, a canvas that generates curiosity in the visitor anticipating the exhibition space that uses this facade to attenuate and standardize natural light and thus optimize the viewing experience of the works. A volume that was originally a façade that seemed to mark the end of the property is now considered the center of the program.
Access to the main volume and its connections with the previous program are made from concrete elements with an apparent finish that are integrated into the new patios, delimiting and framing these reception areas.
By leaving the volume under the open exhibition space, it is possible to centralize the services of the program in addition to generating an optimal area for its multiple use as a workshop, projection room or exhibition hall. This volume filters the circulations orienting the user to the end of the property in which, like an oasis, a patio was planned for which it was necessary to dispense with the last wrought slab, reducing the collection space. This gesture, in addition to allowing light to enter through the back of the gallery, creates another open exhibition space.
Water and stone are the guiding elements of this relief, a patio in which volcanic stone, water, seems to sprout, and in contrast, a piece by the plastic artist Pedro Reyes is located as an auction. Volcanic stone is the natural stratum of this area of ??the City, so it was decided to conserve it in part naturally, spontaneously as it was found, and in part by carving some pieces to place them again thanks to the dedicated hands of artisans. Mexicans, who like a mosaic squared each piece to level the pavement. The control of lights and shadows runs through the entire intervention, through a studied use of materials that, although they seek the roots of the stony ground, generate spaces that in any case appear dynamic and fresh. A perfect balance.
The exhibition space, as the main piece of the program, overwhelms with its content and the spectacular nature of its simple presentation. Indirect lighting ensures the conservation and perfect visualization of the works during the day, while at night, an indirect lighting system is hidden on the rails of the metal racks that store the collection, allowing its use. This storage system for the works is conceived as one more architectural element, metal racks that can slide throughout the space and that in their movement allow different configurations on which to propose the museography.
The orientation of the pieces and location of the racks, is also conditioned by the study of light, a free bay to the west, separates the works from the façade, which seems to be a gesture to leave an area of ??use for educational activities. and use of the activities programmed by the Institute, is a way that the light does not directly affect the pieces. In this setback area to the west of the nave, the service furniture was also selected in such a way as to show the character of the place; the chairs by the designer Oscar Hagerman reflect the character and respect for the materiality of the place, a precept with which Estudio FI designs the rest of the specific furniture for use in workshops and organization.