Anahuacalli Museum by Taller de Arquitectura - Mauricio Rocha

The Anahuacalli Museum, designed by Taller de Arquitectura - Mauricio Rocha, stands as a testament to Diego Rivera’s visionary dream of a “City of Arts” in the southern volcanic landscape of Mexico City. Begun in the 1940s, Rivera imagined a museum built from the native volcanic stone of the site, featuring pre-Hispanic collections and murals that would eventually inspire the works at Ciudad Universitaria. Collaborating with Juan O’Gorman and his daughter Ruth Rivera, the early project combined stone architecture with artistic innovation, laying the groundwork for a museum deeply rooted in Mexico’s cultural heritage.

Construction of the central building, initially Rivera’s studio and exhibition space for his pre-Hispanic collection, was underway when Rivera passed away in 1957. In the 1960s, O’Gorman and Rivera completed the central structure and four surrounding buildings, forming a cohesive plaza-centered museum layout. These included an administrative building, exhibition halls, library, and a storage area for 60,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts, many of which are now accessible to the public.

By the 21st century, the museum sought to expand its community offerings, including art and mathematics workshops, while preserving its unique architectural heritage. Mauricio Rocha’s winning competition design introduces new buildings in dialogue with the original structures, creating a soft plaza with a central courtyard, complementing the sunken plaza of the original layout. The expansion features multi-purpose spaces, including a workshop building with a dance hall, classrooms for visual and mathematical arts, and visitor-accessible storage for previously unseen collections.

The new structures are recessed to reduce environmental impact, harmonizing with the rugged volcanic topography. They combine volcanic stone and concrete, with machine-cut latticework that frames views of the surrounding ecological reserve. Pre-existing buildings are reprogrammed, including a library expansion, cafeteria, toy library, and administrative areas, enhancing visitor engagement while maintaining the museum’s historical essence.

Today, the Anahuacalli Museum serves as a cultural landmark, bridging pre-Hispanic heritage, Diego Rivera’s artistic legacy, and contemporary architectural innovation. It exemplifies sensitive intervention in an ecological reserve, achieving a balance between expansion and preservation, where architecture acts as a connector rather than an intruder.

All Photographs are works of  Rafael Gamo, Onnis Luque, Sandra Pereznieto