Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Shelving, Table, Wood, ChairCarlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, ShelvingCarlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Closet, ShelvingCarlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, ShelvingCarlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - More Images+ 22

Mexiico City, Mexico
  • Architects: JSa
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  225
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Lighteam

Text description provided by the architects. Located in the west wing of the “Jose Vasconcelos” Library in Mexico, the personal library of Carlos Monsivais will be a space where the personal collection created by the writer’s mind will be safeguarded for public use.

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Shelving, Table, Wood, Chair
Cortesía de JSª Arquitectura

The architectural project has as a starting point a selection of specific characteristics of Carlos Monsivais and seeks to translate them into spatial qualities. Order within Chaos, is the first impression that inspired the architecture. The second guiding axis is the special relationship the writer had with the city. These two identifiers are interpreted and expressed in a space that generates a tour, guided using blocks that present various alternatives in three dimensions. The user must walk the site to understand it. The intention here is that despite the enclosure, the user may have different perceptions and experiences. The various blocks that generate the tours are formed by sets of bookshelves that vary in dimensions and textures and which generate different shades of color.

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Shelving, Table
Cortesía de JSª Arquitectura

The Library is done on two levels. What characterizes the first level is that it offers the possibility of several tours. It also has tight spaces because of the bookshelves that allude to the writer’s original library.

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Shelving, Table, Windows
Cortesía de JSª Arquitectura

The second level instead follows a circuit that allows an extensive view of the whole space. The different tours converge into two different open areas where one can read the collections. These areas have double height and natural light.

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Closet, Shelving
Cortesía de JSª Arquitectura

The Library holds several art pieces of Francisco Toledo, renowned painter and sculptor, including the design of the marble floor, who was a close friend of the writer.

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Interior Photography, Shelving, Handrail, Beam
Cortesía de JSª Arquitectura

All together, the different elements that make up the library seek to help bring the visitor closer to the writer.

Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura - Image 25 of 27
Roof Plan

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Project location

Address:Plaza de La Ciudadela, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Carlos Monsiváis Personal Library / JSª Arquitectura" [Biblioteca Personal Carlos Monsiváis / JSª Arquitectura] 11 Feb 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/721188/carlos-monsivais-personal-library-slash-jsa-arquitectura> ISSN 0719-8884

Cortesía de JSª Arquitectura

Carlos Monsiváis 个人图书馆 / JSª Arquitectura

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