Oscar Niemeyer Award to Teopanzolco Cultural Center in Mexico

John Hill

24. octobre 2018

Photo: Jaime Navarro

REDBAAL, the Architecture Biennial Network of Latin America, has announced that Teopanzolco Cultural Center, designed by Isaac Broid + PRODUCTORA, has won the 2018 Oscar Niemeyer Award for Latin American Architecture.

Considered the most prestigious prize for Latin American architecture, the Oscar Niemeyer Award is given every two years to a single work of architecture previously awarded with a Gold or Silver Medal at a REDBAAL biennial. The Teopanzolco Cultural Center won Silver Medal at the III Mexico City Architecture Biennial 2018.

The building sits opposite the archeological zone of Teopanzolco in the Mexican state of Morelos. The architects' two-fold strategy was to "enhance the relationship with the archeological site" and "generate a significant public space," per PRODUCTORA's website. A stepped platform atop the triangular building addresses these by creating a generous public space that doubles as an outdoor auditorium and has views toward the archeological zone. The platform is the roof of the indoor auditorium, while a smaller platform facing the opposite direction caps the lobby.

The Teopanzolco Cultural Center was one of 20 finalists for the Oscar Niemeyer Award culled from 104 eligible projects. The award ceremony and exhibition of the finalists took place at the headquarters of the College of Architects of Mexico City (CAM SAM) on 23 October 2018.