Biblioteca Vasconcelos

the long version

The present edition graphically documents the design, construction and installationof the mega main public library Biblioteca de México "José Vasconcelos" locatedin Mexico City. In 2001 a transformation project of the Biblioteca de México proposal had three main actions: the restoration of the La Ciudadela building, the construction of a more modern and larger building and the establishment of an interchange network between the public libraries in México, where the new library was to be the central node of a national network. The new library that includes surrounding botanical garden was a project by architect Alberto Kalach and was constructed adjacent to the Buenavista train station in the historical downtown area. A final section follows the artistic and technical process of artist Gabriel Orozco and his work team for the construction of the project Mátrix Móvil (Mobile Matrix), a suspended installation of graphite painting on a salvaged whale skeleton done in 2006 that hangs in the central area of the library.