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Archivo Is a Space Dedicated to Collecting, Exhibiting and Rethinking Design in Its Various Forms

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Archivo Is a Space Dedicated to Collecting, Exhibiting and Rethinking Design in Its Various Forms About Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura Archivo is a space dedicated to collecting, exhibiting and rethinking design in its various forms. We are interested in exploring the meaning and potential of design in Mexico, as both a cultural signifier and a source of everyday innovation, with an enormous transformative power. Through a unique research collection open to the public as well as a rich, diverse program of exhibitions and activities, Archivo has estab- lished itself as a pioneering space and a fundamental reference for local architecture and design communities. Founded in 2012 by architect Fernando Romero and his wife Soumaya Slim, Archivo holds a design research collection consisting of over 1,500 design objects that cover a broad spectrum, from everyday objects of Mexican popular culture to limited editions and international design icons of the XXth and XXIst centuries. More than a simple design archive, Archivo functions as an exhibition space, a meeting place, a cultural laboratory, a forum for exchange and debate, and a key element for building knowledge and a critical approach to Mexi- can design. Archivo seeks to reaffirm the importance of design in everyday life, as an area of inquiry that integrates technical, productive, cultural and creative processes. Archivo offers a space for learning and also for critical confrontation, and is a pioneering institution in the field of design and architecture curating and research in Mexico. Archivo also wants to establish itself as a global reference for innovative approaches to the culture and practice of design. Architecture Archivo Collection Archivo is housed in a remarkable mid-century modern house built Archivo houses a design collection of over 1500 objects ranging from by artist and architect Arturo Chávez Paz, neighbouring Luis the first decades of the XXth century to the most recent innovations Barragán's own UNESCO World Heritage house and studio, in the and tendencies in design. The collection is divided in various research traditional Tacubaya neighborhood of Mexico City. Chávez Paz categories, with a particular focus on popular Mexican design and –who never finished architecture school– was an artist and illustra- everyday objects. The collection can be understood as an ABC of tor working closely for the Mexican abstractionist avant-garde with design, with the intention of bringing the public closer to the richness the likes of Mathias Goeritz and Henry Moore. He was in charge and variety of recent design history and production, both in Mexico of all the illustrations for Platería Ortega, Barragan´s first clients in and abroad. It is a living collection, that continues to grow and diversify the neighborhood, for whom he built Casa Ortega in 1943. The year after year. other only Chávez Paz building known to date is the house on the same street, Francisco Ramírez 13. Archivo also faces the former Archivo Library house of Enrique del Moral, now contemporary art gallery, LABOR. This tiny corner of the city is a little-known landmark of In October 2012, Archivo added the private library of noted Mexican Modern Mexican architecture and and important cultural destina- modernist architect Enrique del Moral –author of the La Merced tion, now known as the ¨Tacubaya Triangle¨. market and the Torre de Rectoria at the National University, among other notable buildings– to its collection open to the public. The library consists of over 1,000 books and 500 magazines, covering subjects related to philosophy, history, art and architecture. It is a particularly attractive collection for scholarly interest in Latin Ameri- can modernist architecture, urbanism, and culture. Archivo Shop Archivo Shop is a tiny showcase for the best of design made in Mexico. Just like our collection, our design tiendita and bookshop offers a hand-picked selection of design objects, ranging from popular Mexican everyday products to the work of up-and-coming designers. General Francisco Ramírez 4, Col. Ampliación Daniel Garza México D.F. 11840 T. 52 (55) 26141063 archivonline.org Visit Archivo Public Program Café Archivo Along with exhibitions and access to the collection and library, A spatial intervention by young architecture collective APRDE- Archivo hosts a rich program of activities for both the architecture LESP that links the public space of Constituyentes avenue with the and design community as well as the public at large. Every Tuesday Archivo’s garden. Visitors can not only enjoy our exhibitions, but of each month, the Actividades Archivo program offers lectures spend their time reading, relaxing or wandering around our and discussions, screenings cycles, critical work sessions and garden, fueled by a good cup of coffee. The café also provides reviewing portfolios, interventions in public spaces and other open information on activities at Archivo as well as other spaces in the events. Francisco Ramírez Cultural Corridor. Archivo Impreso and Publications Directory Archivo Impreso is our in-house, freely distributed publication, a printed companion to our exhibition cycles. The Impreso Mario Ballesteros functions as an exhibition catalog, but also condenses different Director writings and essays that directly or indirectly point to themes and [email protected] concerns related to the work of our space and design culture in Mexico. The Impreso is part of Archivo’s editorial branch that Since May 2015, Mario Ballesteros is director at Archivo Diseño y recently published its first book, Tradition vs. Modernity, edited by Arquitectura. Prior to joining Archivo, Mario was founding editor of Kristina Lee Podesva and Rodrigo Ortiz Monasterio, printed by Domus Mexico, Director of Communications at the Laboratorio para Guayaba Press with support from Chicago’s Graham Foundation. la Ciudad –a public innovation lab of the Mexico City Government– editor at Actar Publishers, curator for the Design Hub Barcelona, head Guided Tours of Communications and Digital Platforms at the Barcelona Institute of Architecture (BIArch), editor at Quaderns, and editorial advisor to Archivo offers guided tours for groups and schools. If you want to the Strelka Institute for Media and Architecture in Moscow. He is schedule a guided tour, please contact us at [email protected] currently also a founding partner at Andamio, and independent cultural and editorial consultancy focused on architecture and design, and teaches design criticism at CENTRO. Special Events Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura is a non-profit organization, and we Luis Felipe Sánchez occasionally offer our spaces for private events. If you are interested Coordinador de exposiciones in hosting your event at Archivo, please contact [email protected] [email protected] Fabiola García Location and opening hours Coordinadora de comunicación y alianzas [email protected] General Francisco Ramírez 4 Col. Ampliación Daniel Garza Monday through Friday 10:00-18:00 h Saturday 10:00-14:00 h Fernando Farfán Free entrance Comunicación visual [email protected] archivo_d_a_ Adriana Hernández archivo_d_a_ Asistente de biblioteca y acervo archivodisenoyarquitectura [email protected] General Francisco Ramírez 4, Col. Ampliación Daniel Garza México D.F. 11840 T. 52 (55) 26141063 archivonline.org.
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