The iconic Soumaya Museum and its shiny steel tile facade.

The iconic architecture of the Soumaya Museum, located in the heart of Mexico City, represents a catalyst for urban and community regeneration, contributing to the transformation of the entire area and attracting, from the very beginning, over a million visitors thanks to its fascinating permanent and temporary exhibitions, presented on different scales and designed for a wide and diverse audience.

A monumental artistic heritage

The Soumaya Museum, designed by the Fr-ee studio, houses an extraordinary collection of nearly 70,000 works of art, spanning from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. This collection includes precious pieces, such as the second largest collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin, establishing the museum as a prominent international cultural center. As one of the most ambitious contemporary architectural projects in Mexico, the museum's design embodies the desire to create a new cultural institution accessible to the public, aimed at spreading artistic knowledge to a wide audience, making art approachable and inviting discovery of the eras represented in the collections.

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The shiny steel tile outfit

Located in the heart of the modern cultural and commercial district of Plaza Carso in Mexico City, the Soumaya Museum stands as an imposing rhomboidal building 150 feet tall, supported by 28 curved steel columns, each designed in a specific size and shape to support the unique structure. Clad in a skin of 16,000 hexagonal mirrored steel elements, the museum stands out as an architectural jewel that reflects the city and its skies, evoking wonder and curiosity. This particular design enhances its modernity, making it shine as a symbol of architectural innovation and a focal point of urban regeneration.

A Mexican Tradition-Inspired Cladding

The hexagonal steel tile cladding of the Soumaya Museum is a clear reference to the ceramic tiles typical of the colonial facades of Mexico City. This design choice was made to visually connect the museum to the city's architectural tradition while maintaining a contemporary aesthetic. The mirrored hexagons give the museum a ever-changing appearance, which varies with the weather conditions, time of day, and viewing angle, turning it into an almost "living" building undergoing constant visual metamorphosis.

A Journey Through Art: Structure and Spaces of the Museum

The structure of the Soumaya Museum, supported by a system of seven rings, allows for a continuous walk on six levels through the exhibition spaces, offering visitors a smooth and uninterrupted path through the galleries. The upper level welcomes visitors with a column-free exhibition hall flooded with natural light, designed to enhance the displayed works. In addition to the galleries, the museum includes a 350-seat auditorium for events and conferences, a library, a restaurant, a gift shop, and offices, making this space not just a museum, but a true multifunctional cultural center, accessible and designed for the public.