The Mexican-based office Rojkind Arquitectos (Spanish for Architects) have recently released their latest project to the public, Foro Boca, which has also broke ground in the first days of July 2015. The project is located in a city and municipality located in the Mexican State of Veracruz, called Boca Del Rio. A city which has been musically developed and enriched over the year, reaching the climax of the formation of its own Philarmonic Orchestra in 2014. The Orchestra has attracted local and foreign musicians through its diverse musical performances, making Boca Del Rio the centre of cultural activity in Veracruz.
Photography by © Jaime Navarro
The Orchestra is divided into three different lines of action ranging from the annual Orchestral Concerts to the monthly Chamber Music performances, and the Orquestando Armonia after school social development program for children of lower social classes. After the formation of the Philarmonic Orchestra, the need to create a house for its musical and social activities was present and it was address through the design of Foro Boca that will serve as its headquarters upon completion. The project is part of a wider master plan that aims to regenerate the urban area of Boca Del Rio and breathe new life to it.
The new headquarters are located on the side of a breakwater that divides the river and the sea. By being located to the estuary or the mouth of the river, this gives the name to the city and the project, because “Boca” is Spanish for “Mouth”. Therefore “Boca Del Rio” means River’s Mouth and “Foro Boca” means Forum Mouth. The building will essentially become a structure that holds in a series of interconnected spaces. These spaces will be an 850-seat concert hall, rehearsal spaces, music library and offices.”The building appropriates the timeless expression of the concretes cubes formed by ripraps in the breakwater, assimilating them as its origin and re-interpreting them in a building made of apparent concrete, forming various areas of volume that contain the concert hall,” stated the architects.
Photography by © Jaime Navarro
Foreign and local specialists in sound engineering, acoustics, isoptics and theatrical mechanics have been appointed into creating this high technologically advanced interior. An interior which converts the concert hall into the most sophisticated one in the country of vast Mexico. The concert hall is able to hold performances ranging from dance and theatre to cinematic shows. Moreover, Foro Boca will also include a rehearsal hall able to hold 150 spectators. In addition of being a space dedicated for rehearsals, it can also accommodate the needs of events such as chamber concerts, floor theatre plays , cinema and contemporary dance shows.
The interior spaces within the building are shaped around the everyday needs of the orchestra as well the needs of other everyday theatrical activities. It will also be comprised with an office are and musical library, while being able to offer the possibility of workshop courses and temporary festivals. The building spreads out on its exterior surroundings, creating a space that serves the public as a meeting and entertainment point that complements the everyday public use of the concert hall.
Photography by © Jaime Navarro
Rojkind Arquitectos have not convinced me with the overall design of this buildings. First of all i see some geometric blocks that are put together to create its form. This form does not open up allowing light in and views out to the surroundings-as seen by the computer-produced images. In my opinion it is unacceptable for a building to be placed on such an exquisite location and not frame views of the see and river. I can imagine this same design being implemented somewhere inland which is something not particularly good. It is a space intended to accommodate the public but it feels like it is strictly closed to itself. It should be open, transparent, fluid. Furthermore, the west elevation looks extremely similar to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Is this a coincidence? I really do not think so my dear architects.
