Lecumberri National Archive Museum : By Rojkind Arquitectos

Mexico city, Mexico
Rojkind Arquitectos
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--bird's eye at night

Mexico-based practice rojkind arquitectos has sent us their design proposal for the country's national archive museum which is housed in the palacio de lecumberri, a former prison in mexico city. since its inception in 1882, the prison has gone through a number of expansion and transformation, resulting in a structure similar to an old canvas that has been painted over and over again. the proposal aims to restore the building in a manner that is largely true to the idea of its vanguard prison origin, while still bringing in new elements that would provide for the new cultural and research facility.

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--view of central space

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--central space

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--museum courtyard

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--view of museum

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

The design proposes to restore some of the original dimensions of the building and bring back a 19th century prison layout concept that lorenzo de la hidalga originally proposed in 1882: the panopticon. the concept refers to a radial layout of the cells which allows the observer to look out at the prisoners without the latter being able to tell whether they are being watched or not. usually consisting of a central tower or control station, the design utilizes this advantageous point to provide the visitors with a clear outline site of the history of mexican society, keeping the most evocative spaces free from distractions.

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--view of physical and digital reference hall

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--view of document research hall

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--view from green terrace

The heart of the museum acts as the collective hub for the circulation of the project.
featuring ramps and connections to the rest of the building, it remains open to the exterior,
acting as an exposed atrium space with sightlines to different levels and activities throughout. the programs and facilities of the museum are housed in the residual spaces, leaving the star-shaped concourse for circulation purposes while allowing for a clear reading of the original building.

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--rendered top view

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--conceptual board / illustrating the evolution of the building

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--project phasing

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--building program: ground floor

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--building program: basement level

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--ground floor plan

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--basement floor plan

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--(left) ground floor plan of entrance (center) basement floor plan level -2.80 (right) basement floor plan level -7.80

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--document exhibit area

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--long building section

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--museum component section

Image © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos--physical model

The people
Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos
Location: Mexico city, Mexico
Design principal: michel rojkind halpert
Printipal: gerardo salinas van orman
Project team: alonso de la fuente obregón, rafael cedillo sánchez,
daniela bustamante quiroz, yasser r. salomón espinoza,
alejandro argumedo reyes, carlos a. ríos limón, tere levy chomer,
andrea león cruz, monique rojkind halpert, filiberta cervantes sanluis
Architectural historian consultant: rafael ricardo fierro gossman
Museography consultant: patrick gallagher
Urban planner: arturo ortíz struck
Design computational consultants: (kokkugia) roland snooks,
robert stuart smith, faysal tabbara tyson hosmer
Structural engineer: (studio NYL) chris o'hara, julian lineham
Physical model: a. hazael ortiz ramos, crystaline l.a.
Industrial design: (agent) alberto villareal bello, víctor lópez alemán,
isaac smeke jaber, enrique fernández de la barrera
Graphic design: fhilipp navarro garcía, ernesto moncada
Images: © Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

Related articles

• Nouvel Studio: Handmade Artisan Glass Factory Tour (apartmenttherapy.com)
• CG House in Mexico by GLR Arquitectos (design-milk.com)
• The Cork House by Arquitectos Anónimos (Photos) (treehugger.com)
• Globe Trotting: At Long Last, a Modern Home With a Decidedly Un-Beige Palette (curbed.com)
• Corky Building Constructions - The Cork House by Arquitectos Anónimos Has a Co-uirky Exterior (GALLERY) (trendhunter.com)
• Day & Night Apartment by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos (apartmenttherapy.com)
• National Laboratory of Genomics by TEN Arquitectos (karmatrendz.wordpress.com)
• Mexico City! - Mexico City, Mexico (travelpod.com)
• suggested place - Mexico City, Mexico (travelpod.com)
• rojkind arquitectos: national archive museum - palacio de lecumberri (designboom.com)