Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Asymptote’s proposal of the Guggenheim in Guadalajara competition imagined the museum as an undulating mass rising from four sculptural corner volumes, with a central atrium acting as an “urban balcony.” A computer-generated ceramic tile would have covered the steel. While they lost to Enrique Norten, their surprising proposal has since been attracting attention and acclaim. With a strong, iconic architectural expression on a spectacular, clifftop site, the diaphanous spectre seemingly hovers like a spaceship. It is touted by the architects as a space that performs simultaneously as a “dramatic viewing platform, a gateway, a gathering place, an urban theatre and an outdoor exhibition space.”
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Architect Description:
Asymptote’s design for a new Guggenheim Museum in Guadalajara, Mexico projects an iconic architectural presence on a spectacular site. The four sculptural corner building volumes that rise up from the ground plane and the sweeping surfaces of the museum suspended above create a remarkable space that transitions between the city and the surrounding canyon. In this dynamic public space visitors can access the public amenities housed in the corner buildings, view large-scale sculptures on exhibit or enter the museum interior via escalators set against an extraordinary panorama.
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
LOCATION: Guadalajara, Mexico
SIZE: 25,000 sq.m
DATE: 2005
CLIENT:
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
ARCHITECT:
Asymptote Architecture
CONSULTANTS:
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Buro Happold
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN: Atelier Ten
COST CONSULTANT: Davis Langdon
EXPERIENCE DESIGN: Imaginary Forces
MODEL PROTOTYPING: InterPRO Montreal
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.