To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of the Museo Tamayo (1981–2021), we present a selection of photographs and architectural drawings of this iconic building located in the heart of Mexico City. Designed by architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky, the museum embodies several architectural motifs characteristic of the 1970s: a bold, sculptural use of concrete; a floor plan composed of 45-degree angles; and a strong integration with the surrounding topography.
Its pyramidal arrangement of monolithic, windowless volumes and grassy embankments evokes pre-Hispanic ruins, while the semi-buried placement of the complex softens its monumental and archaic presence. The interior unfolds through a dynamic sectional composition—featuring split levels, ramps, and staircases—that creates an intricate spatial experience. The consistent use of exposed aggregate concrete across floors, walls, and ceilings evokes the sensation of being inside a carved cavern, illuminated by skylights and carefully positioned openings.
At once radically modern in its spatial conception and evocative of a neo-Aztec ruin, the building captures the dual architectural tendencies of the 1970s. It remains one of the most compelling examples of Brutalism in Latin America.
The Museo Tamayo was also a milestone in terms of cultural infrastructure—it was the first large-scale museum in Mexico to be built with private funds. Commissioned in 1972 by Olga and Rufino Tamayo, the project faced some delays during its planning phase. Construction began in 1979 on a site donated by the federal government within Chapultepec Park, and the building was completed two years later. It officially opened its doors on May 29, 1981. In 2012, the museum was expanded by Teodoro González de León to accommodate new needs and growing audiences.
Serie 05 – Architectural Plans
We would like to thank Magalí Arriola, Director of the Museo Tamayo at the time, and Andrés Valtierra, Associate Curator, for the invitation to collaborate on this project. Special thanks to the Archivo de Arquitectos Mexicanos at UNAM and to Dr. Lourdes Cruz for digitizing—especially for this occasion—a complete set of preliminary plans for the museum (signed by Olga and Rufino Tamayo) from her personal collection.
To accompany the release of the digital archive, an online discussion was held on June 29, 2021, featuring the participation of Lourdes Cruz (Coordinator of the Archivo de Arquitectos Mexicanos, Faculty of Architecture, UNAM), Matthew Kennedy (architect and writer based in Mexico City), Andrés Valtierra (Associate Curator at Museo Tamayo), Isaac Broid (architect), and Wonne Ickx (founding partner at LIGA).
