Spring 2010 Lecture Series: Celebrating the City of Palaces
The “City of Palaces” is what radio announcers used to call Mexico City in their daily broadcasts—an apt nickname since its architectural treasures are unmatched in the Western Hemisphere. As Richard Neutra pointed out in a 1952 essay, only Peru can rival its Pre-Colombian and Colonial riches, but no other city in the Americas can boast of monuments from both of these eras, as well as an extraordinary body of modern architecture that keeps growing. During 2010 Mexico will be celebrating the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence (la Independencia de México) and the Centennial of The Mexican Revolution (la Revolucíon Mexicana). The Rice Design Alliance joins the celebrations with a lecture series, “Mexico City Surging: DF Architecture,” featuring a remarkable group of young architects who are making an impact on Mexico City with their built projects.
To purchase tickets in advance online, click here.
Wednesday, February 3
José Castillo
Co-founder and Principal, Arquitectura911, Mexico City
Model for University of Guadalajara's New Performing Arts Center, Arquitectura911
José Castillo holds a degree in architecture from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City as well as a Masters in architecture and a Doctor of Design degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Prior to co-founding arquitectura 911sc, Castillo was a partner with Alberto Kalach and Teodoro González de León, in FDU, a multidisciplinary firm/think tank working on planning, urban design, and architectural projects. His built work and writings have appeared in several publications, including Praxis Journal, Bomb, 2G, Domus Geographical UK, Monocle, AD, and Architectural Record. He is also a contributor to the recently published book by Phaidon, The Endless City.
Castillo has curated various exhibitions, including Mexico City Dialogues: New Architectural Practices at the Center for Architecture in New York City in 2005; Mexico City: The Space of Potentiality at the 2006 Venice Biennale; and Mexico City EAST: Territories of Growth at the 2007 Canary Islands Arts and Architecture Biennale.
Wednesday, February 10
Javier Sanchez
Co-founder and Principal, JSa, Mexico City
Amsterdam 235, by JSa
Javier Sanchez is the founding partner of JSa, formerly known as Higuera + Sanchez. In 1996, Sanchez graduated with honors in architecture from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City. He holds a Masters degree in the Science and Development of Real Estate Projects from Columbia University. As an architect and developer of innovative real estate projects, Sanchez was recognized in 2008 by the Mexican Federation of Architects for “his outstanding, determined and constant participation seeking the greater development of architecture both in domestic and international spheres.”
Sanchez received the Golden Lion for urban projects at the 10th International Exhibition at the 2006 Venice Biennale of Architecture for the housing project “Brazil 44” in Mexico City. JSa was one of 100 firms to be selected by Herzog and De Meuron to create a villa for the Ordos 100 project in Inner Mongolia, China.
Wednesday, February 17
Derek Dellekamp
Co-founder and Principal, Dellekamp Arquitectos, Mexico City
Alfonso Reyes 58, Dellekamp Arquitectos
Derek Dellekamp graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, and in 1999 founded Dellekamp Arquitectos. His interest in urban scale led to the formation of MXDF Urban Research Center with other colleagues to investigate the intricate urban reality of Mexico City. Immersed in contemporary architectural discourse, Dellekamp’s work is often informed through collaboration with other disciplines.
In 2003, Dellekamp was the recipient of an Honorary Distinction in the Jose
Vasconcelos National Library Competition in collaboration with Dominique
Perrault, Michel Rojkind, and Miquel Adriá. His work is featured in books such as the Wallpaper Architects Directory, Phaidon’s 10 X 10 and the Atlas of World Architecture, and periodicals like Architectures á Vivre, Arquine, Summa +, and GA House. Dellekamp was a selected speaker in the Emerging Voices lecture at the Architectural League of New York.
Wednesday, February 24
Frida Escobedo Lopez
Principal, Frida Escobedo Lopez, Architect, Mexico City
Casa Negra, Frida Escobedo Lopez, Architect
Frida Escobedo founded her Mexico City firm in 2006. In 2009, she was selected as one of the winners of the Architectural League of New York’s 2009 Young Architects Competition. She has described her office’s work as focusing on “the residual and the forgotten: from decadent suburbs that are being subdivided, to rundown tourist spots, to unused roofs and basements” and the identification of “forces that change the configuration of cities…central and powerful or marginal, formal or informal.”
Her work includes the renovation of the Boca Chica Hotel in Acapulco; Casa Negra and Casa 662 in Mexico City; and Caja Gris for which she received the 2005 Young Creator’s Grant in the National System of Arts, Mexico. Additionally, in 2006 Escobedo’s firm received first place in a national affordable housing competition in Mexico.
Escobedo graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She is currently a professor in the architecture faculty at that institution.
All lectures will be held at 7 p.m.
Brown Auditorium, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1001 Bissonnet (Enter via the Main Street door)
Please join us for a 6 p.m. pre-lecture wine reception in the MFAH Foyer at 1001 Bissonnet. We thank our generous underwriters: Mission Constructors, Inc.; Barbara J.Amelio; Kendall / Heaton Associates; and Office Pavilion.
Additional parking at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is available until 7 pm for $3 in the museum garage located at the corner of Binz and Fannin Streets.
Special Accommodations: Please alert us if you need any special accommodation to attend any lecture. A minimum of two weeks notice is appreciated.
Series Tickets:
$20 – RDA, MFAH members
$15 – Senior citizens 65 and older
$10 – Students with identification
$35 – Others
Single Tickets (upon availability):
$7 – RDA, MFAH members; Senior citizens 65 and older; Students with identification
$10 – Others
To purchase tickets in advance, click here to pay online, or send a check or money order and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
Rice University
Rice Design Alliance – MS 51
PO Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892
For tickets over the phone and additional information, please call 713-348-4876.
The Rice Design Alliance is an AIA/CES Registered Provider of quality educational programs. For each lecture, attendees will earn one Learning Unit, which will be reported to CES Records on the member’s behalf. Registration at the lecture is required. Non-AIA members may request a Certificate of Completion to fulfill state MCE requirements.
This lecture series is supported by Austin Commercial; Gilbane; D. E. Harvey Builders; Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc.; Kirksey; Linbeck Group; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.; SpawMaxwell Company; TDIndustries, Inc.; Tellepsen; Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Tudor; Wylie Consulting Engineers; the Corporate Members of the Rice Design Alliance; the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance; the Texas Commission on the Arts; the National Endownment for the Arts; and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston; and Bank of America.
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Filed Under: Lectures, latin america, Lectures
