Annik Keoseyan 
Arquitecta
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NATIONAL CINEMA OF ARTS
Client: Ministry of Culture of Mexico 
Typology: Rehabilitation 
Chapultepec Nature & Culture Master Plan: Gabriel Orozco
Architecture: Taller Mauricio Rocha 
Project Director: Annik Keoseyan
Date: 2019 - 2024

The Fourth Section of Chapultepec houses a series of disused industrial warehouses that were once part of a military zone. This project focuses on the recovery and repurposing of these warehouses, transforming them into a significant cultural space: a new venue for the National Cinema. The intervention aims not only to rehabilitate the existing structures but also to enhance their conditions to accommodate a contemporary, functional, and sustainable program.

One of the main warehouses, originally a military assembly building, proved ideal for hosting a cinematic complex. Inside, six screening rooms were constructed: four with a capacity of 200 seats and two with 100 seats. Additionally, two outdoor screening areas were designed on the perimeter of the warehouse, expanding opportunities for cultural engagement in a natural setting. The interior screening rooms were built using steel structures and acoustic panels made from recycled wood, highlighting the project’s commitment to sustainability and the reuse of materials.

DESCRIPTION︎︎︎

Each screening room is separated by courtyards, creating strategic voids between them. These courtyards act as transitional spaces that enrich the user experience, connecting the interior with the surrounding environment. Structurally, the screening rooms rest on exposed concrete beams anchored to the pre-existing industrial floor, preserving the site's industrial character while adapting it for new uses.

The sides of the warehouse were converted into service areas that accommodate a diverse public program, including cafés, restaurants, bookstores, and galleries. As part of the intervention, unnecessary elements from the original structure were removed, such as concrete block partitions along the perimeters, to open the building towards the surrounding forest. This openness highlights the natural landscape, inviting visitors to visually connect with the Chapultepec Forest.

The existing structure offered a space with a unique atmosphere, defined by its vastness, monumental height, and the natural light that filters through its openings. These characteristics created a contained yet flexible environment with significant potential to be transformed into a functional and dynamic space without losing its essence. The proposal focused on preserving this character through precise interventions that engage with the original proportions and maximize the site's possibilities.

The choice of concrete and steel as primary materials responds not only to structural logic but also to the industrial aesthetic inherent to the warehouse. Concrete, used in exposed beams and support elements, adds a sense of permanence and connection to the building’s past. Meanwhile, steel, applied in construction details and new structures, introduces a sense of lightness and adaptability, reinforcing the concept of transformation and renewal.

Taller Mauricio Rocha was commissioned to develop this work and invited Annik Keoseyan to collaborate on directing the project: 
_Project Director: Annik Keoseyan
_Project Coordinator: Elena Martínez Padrón
_Construction Site Supervisor: Juan Carlos Montiel
_Team: Fernando Sampietro, Emma Vilchis, Damián Martínez, Luis Hernández, Pedro López Heredia, Alberto Villar.