Economic Culture Fund
Project Status: Completed
Project Year: 2014
Use: Cultural
Client: Federal Government
Area: 2,158 m2
Location: Mexico City
Design: Frida Escobedo
Construction: Taller A
Context
The remodeling project was conceived to revitalize the bookstore experience, improving both its spatial quality and public engagement. The intervention coincided with two major cultural milestones — the 100th anniversary of Octavio Paz’s birth and the 80th anniversary of the Fondo de Cultura Económica — making the project not only a renewal of space but also a celebration of Mexico’s literary and cultural legacy.
Throughout the renovation, public access and services remained uninterrupted, reinforcing the bookstore’s role as a living cultural institution rather than a static monument.
Design Principles
The design emphasizes the interplay between architecture, art, and public life, guided by a spirit of experimentation and openness rather than adherence to a specific style. The central design gesture transforms the bookstore’s core space into a double-height, light-filled atrium, adaptable for both everyday use and cultural events. Furnished with public armchairs and framed by floor-to-ceiling gray curtains, this space can be reconfigured into one or two forums for book presentations or remain open as a communal gathering area.
On the exterior, a glass volume reveals the staircase, establishing a visual dialogue between interior and city. The vertical circulation along the façade seamlessly connects the pedestrian entrance with both floors, while an additional stairway from the parking lot ensures accessibility.
Inside, the second floor mirrors the first, with bookcases, benches, and reading areas encircling the atrium. Toward the rear, a café and terrace overlook the Chimalistac neighborhood, offering visitors a quiet, contemplative space that extends the bookstore’s role as a cultural and social meeting point.
