Soumaya Museum
Project Status: Completed
Project Year: 2011
Use: Cultural
Client: Fundacion Carlos Slim
Area: 16,000 m2
Location: Mexico City
Design: Mauricio Ceballos, FR-EE
Photography: Aberu, Javier Esteve, Erick Aquino, Luis Vidal
Project developed for LAR by Mauricio Ceballos and Team.
Context
A collaboration between Fernando Romero and Mauricio Ceballos, the museum was commissioned to showcase the private art collection of Carlos Slim, one of the most significant in Latin America. The collection features nearly 70,000 works of art, ranging from the 15th to the mid-20th century, and includes the largest ensemble of Auguste Rodin sculptures outside France.
Conceived as an architectural landmark for Plaza Carso, a newly developed urban district, the museum was envisioned not only as a cultural hub but also as a catalyst for urban regeneration.
Design Principles
The design sought to create an iconic, technologically innovative structure using entirely local resources—materials, technology, and labor. A tubular steel framework supported by 28 columns forms the building’s core structure, enabling the distinctive, fluid geometry of the 150-foot-tall museum.
The facade was developed with precision and efficiency in mind, composed of 17,000 hexagonal aluminum panels that achieve a seamless, reflective surface. This modular system, both aesthetically refined and structurally efficient, was fabricated and installed in a record six months, demonstrating the project’s mastery of design coordination and construction innovation.
