Eclectic, Unusual Architecture

LAR Fernando Romero

By Geri Smith

Eclectic, Unusual Architecture

Visitors to Mexico City are often surprised by its breadth of architectural styles, from 16th century churches to oddly shaped skyscrapers of the past decade. The result: an eclectic collection of unusual buildings, including a few that architecture professor José Maria Nava of the Iberoamerican University called "vedette buildings"—movie-star structures that stand apart and aloof from their surroundings. The latest addition will be the 183,000 square-foot Soumaya Museum, shown above, designed to house the art collection of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. The stretched, twisted aluminum cube is due to be inaugurated before the end of 2010. Here, take a virtual tour of some of Mexico City's other architectural head-turners.