Kurrimotzo Gallery | Pedro RosenbleuthAlberto Kalachs architectural practice has long been characterized by a profound sensitivity to site, material, and spatial experience. The Kurrimotzo Gallery presents a compelling exploration of how architecture can serve as both a frame and a subject in the art exhibition. Located within an evolving urban landscape, the gallery functions as a space for artistic display and as an architectural statement in its own right. Kurrimotzo Gallery Technical InformationArchitects1-2: TAX, Alberto KalachLocation: Gob. Rafael Rebollar 94, Colonia San Miguel Chapultepec, Mexico City, MexicoArea: 1,300 m2 | 13,990 Sq. Ft.Completion Year: 2008Photographs: Pedro Rosenbleuth; Roberto Ortiz de LandazuriThe first task of language is to create a space that fulfills a concrete objective, a space that is practical but at the same time thrills and offers a sense of surprise that becomes part of your memory. Alberto Kalach 3Kurrimotzo Gallery PhotographsFacade | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesCourtyard | Pedro RosenbleuthGallery Space | Pedro RosenbleuthSkylight | Pedro RosenbleuthSkylight | Pedro RosenbleuthGallery Space | Pedro RosenbleuthConcrete Bench Detail | Pedro RosenbleuthCourtyard | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesCourtyard | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesCourtyard | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesCourtyard | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesSkylight | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesGallery Space | Roberto Ortiz de Landazuri, ArchEyesSpatial and Programmatic Composition: Reinterpreting the Gallery TypologyThe Kurrimotzo Gallery departs from traditional white-box paradigms, opting instead for a dynamic interplay of volumes, light, and movement. The spatial composition is defined by a sequence of rooms that encourage a layered experience of arteach space offering distinct perceptual shifts through varying ceiling heights, apertures, and transitions between enclosed and semi-open areas. The circulation strategy is particularly noteworthy: visitors are guided through a carefully orchestrated sequence of spaces that alternate between compression and expansion rather than a linear progression.Kalachs use of thresholdswhether through carefully framed openings or transitional courtyardscreates a nuanced dialogue between interior and exterior. The gallery does not merely house art but actively engages with it, offering spatial conditions that allow for different scales of artistic intervention. This intentional ambiguity between exhibition space and architectural space raises questions about the role of galleries in shaping how art is experienced.Materiality and Atmosphere: Crafting Sensory ExperiencesMateriality plays a central role in defining the character of the Kurrimotzo Gallery. Kalach has long advocated raw, locally sourced materials, and this project continues that ethos. Using exposed concrete, stone, and timber is not merely an aesthetic choice but an effort to anchor the building within its physical and cultural context. These materials contribute to a tactile quality that contrasts sharply with the often sterile environments of contemporary galleries.Natural and artificial lighting is another crucial element in the projects atmospheric composition. Skylights and clerestory windows punctuate the heavy materiality of the walls, allowing diffused daylight to sculpt the interior spaces. The play of light and shadow shifts throughout the day, creating an ever-changing backdrop for the exhibited works. At night, strategically placed artificial lighting highlights textural details, emphasizing the material richness of the gallery itself.The integration of vegetationan element frequently seen in Kalachs worksoftens the buildings brutalist tendencies. Courtyards punctuated with native plants serve as transitional spaces and moments of pause, blurring the boundary between architecture and landscape.Context and Cultural Resonance: Beyond the ObjectWhile the Kurrimotzo Gallery is undoubtedly a formal and spatial experiment, its significance extends beyond its immediate physicality. The gallerys relationship with its urban or natural surroundings is critical to its architectural narrative. Does it integrate harmoniously within its context, or does it assert itself as an autonomous object? Kalachs design treads a delicate line between the two, offering a deeply rooted and undeniably distinct structure.From a cultural perspective, the gallerys impact on the local arts scene cannot be overlooked. As more cities witness the commodification of gallery spaces, often stripped of architectural ambition, the Kurrimotzo Gallery stands as a counterpointa space where the built environment enhances, rather than neutralizes, artistic experience. By embracing materiality, light, and spatial dynamism, it fosters an engagement with art that is as much about the observers movement through space as it is about the works on display.Sustainability is another lens through which the project can be critically evaluated. While its reliance on heavy materials raises questions about embodied carbon, its passive cooling strategies, reliance on natural light, and integration with the landscape suggest a conscientious approach to environmental concerns. The absence of overt sustainability branding is refreshingKalach allows the architecture itself to communicate these values subtly and effectively.Kurrimotzo Gallery PlansFloor Plan | TAX | Alberto KalachSection | TAX | Alberto KalachElevation and Sections | TAX | Alberto KalachKurrimotzo Gallery Image GalleryAbout Alberto KalachAlberto Kalach is a Mexican architect known for his innovative and contextually driven designs that blend modernism with natural and cultural influences. As the founder of Taller de Arquitectura X (T.A.X.), his work spans residential, commercial, and public projects, often integrating vegetation, raw materials, and sustainable strategies. Notable works include the Jos Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City and various residential projects that emphasize light, space, and ecological sensitivity. His architecture reflects a deep engagement with Mexicos urban and natural landscapes.Credits and Additional NotesDesign Team: Taller de Arquitectura X (T.A.X.)Client: Kurimanzutto Gallery, founded by Mnica Manzutto, Jos Kuri, and Gabriel OrozcoAlberto Kalach: WorkbyAlberto Kalach,Miquel Adri,Carlos Jimnez,Juan Palomar,Fernndo Fernndez,Eduardo Vzquez