‘centro roberto garza sada’ by tadao ando, monterrey, mexico

all images courtesy of lenoir & asociados

alternately dubbed ‘the gate of creation’ tadao ando’s recently realized building for the art, architecture and design school at universidad de monterreyin mexico is the architect’s first project in latin america. the sweeping concrete form is meant to enclose studio and learning spaces for some 500+ studentsin creative majors while tectonically expressing the value of aesthetics within the larger program of the school. characterized by a stepped hyperbolic underside that gives way to a stadium-like hall, the built form uses simple material to create an impressive space of collaboration. the six reinforced concrete levels are organized around light-filled voids interjected with both cleanly orthogonal and dramatically curved stairs. the result is a perfectlyproportioned tabula rasa that ‘opens the gates’ for a new generation of latin american designers.

exterior views show the ‘gate’ and entrance image courtesy of lenoir & asociados

a central void helps organize both orthogonal and curved paths of circulationimage courtesy of lenoir & asociados

the underbelly of the stair directs light over the perfect concrete castimage courtesy of lenoir & asociados

stepped hyperbola of the structure meets the central stairimage courtesy of lenoir & asociados

spaces were envisioned as opportunities for creative exchangeimage courtesy of lenoir & asociados

interior of a lecture hall, complete generous glazing and diffused light image courtesy of lenoir & asociados

interior views of classrooms image courtesy of lenoir & asociados

workshop facilities were seamlessly woven into the building’s clean aesthetic image courtesy of lenoir & asociados

ando’s sketch of the gestalt of the building

further development of the ‘gate’ by ando

ando sketched the built form’s unique relationship to the ground plane

andro’s drawing of the public space beneath the building is posited as a stadium-like subtraction from the ground

this excerpt is from a full length video about the opening of the new tadao ando-designed centro roberto garza sada, universidad de monterrey’s school of art,architecture and design. [spanish only]

see the full length video © udem here