Source: WTL© photograph taken on-site at the UNAM library in Mexico, D.F. (2007).
Comments: Mexico's Ciudad Universitaria (university campus) was begun in 1940 with the goal of putting a many of the functions and facilities of the UNAM on one campus. The university's style was inspired by pre-Hispanic humanities and Mexican traditions fused with modern vanguardista construction. (What does vanguardista refer to?) The chief architect was Carlos Lazo in collaboration with Mario Pani, Enrique del Moral, and Mauricio Campus.
Image: Western exterior of UNAM's library seen through trees near the parking lot across from the Olympic stadium. The library, eleven stories high (tiene diez pisos) and completely rectangular, was built by Juan O'Gorman, Gustavo Saavedra, and Juan Martínez de Velasco in 1950. The murals are by Juan O'Gorman. They are made of multicolored stones that come from all over Mexico.
Juan O'Gorman (1905-1982): He was a Mexican artist, painter, muralist, and architect. He developed what is known as "organic architecture" with elements influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and fused with traditional Mexican motifs and construction methods. His murals and paintings deal with Mexico's history, its countryside, its customs, legends, and traditions.
Humanities questions: (A) What pre-Hispanic elements do you see? (B) What modern / vanguardista elements do you see? (C) Would you like your college to have such a library building? (D) What elements would your college library display if you covered it with murals? (E) What kind of culture uses mural art so dramatically?