Colonia San Pablo Tepetlapa in Ciudad de México, Mexico — The Valley of Mexico (The Central Highlands)

The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 6, 2017

1. The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli
“Anahuacalli era el templo donde la humanidad se reunía alrededor de los cuatro elementos naturales: agua, fuego, viento y tierra”.
Susana Aviña Herrera

El diseño del Anahuacalli - palabra que significa "casa rodeada por aguas o lagos" - fue proyectado por Diego Rivera desde la década de los 40. Pensado para ser un museo y una ciudad de las artes, Rivera utilizó piedra volcánica de este mismo lugar, que se origina con la explosión del volcán Xitle. En este edificio, Diego rinde homenaje a la arquitectura prehispánica, pero además toma elementos funcionalistas e incluso algunos detalles del Art Decó. De igual manera, Diego mantuvo correspondencia con el famoso arquitecto norteamericano Frank Lloyd Wright, con quien intercambió ideas sobre el uso de elementos originarios y la integración arquitectónica con su entorno natural.

La gran explanada representa un patio de origen teotihuacano y constituye un teatro al aire libre, mientras las edificaciones que lo rodean fueron pensadas por Diego para albergar exposiciones, ofrecer enseñanza de las

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artes y para dar lugar a expresiones de música, danza, pintura o escultura. La forma de la construcción es la de un teocalli. Rivera quiso representar a Quetzalcóatl con las fauces abiertas y sólo pudo supervisar la edificación del primer nivel del Anahuacalli y su fachada. Gracias a la generosidad de Dolores Olmedo y al apoyo de Ruth Rivera, Heriberto Pagelson y el arquitecto Juan O’Gorman, fue posible concluirlo.

English:
The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum "The Anahuacalli was the temple where humanity gathered around the four elements: fire, water, wind, and earth.”
Susana Aviña Herrera

The design of the Anahuacalli – which means "House Surrounded by Water or Lakes” – was planned by Diego Rivera in the 1940s. Conceived from the start as a museum and a city of the arts, Rivera used on-site volcanic rock, which came from the lava flow from the eruption of Mount Xitle. In this building, Diego paid homage to pre-Hispanic architecture, while he also took functionalist elements and even some details from Art Deco. Similarly, Diego corresponded with renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with whom he exchanged ideas on the use of autochthonous elements and the integration of architecture with its natural surroundings.

The spacious esplanade represents a patio of Teotihuacan origin

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 6, 2017

2. The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum Marker

The marker is to the left of the Anahuacalli building.

and serves as an open-air theater, while the structures surrounding it were devised by Diego to house exhibitions, teach the public about the arts, and serve as a venue for music, dance, painting, and sculpture. The shape of the construction is that of a teocalli, a pre-Hispanic temple. Rivera wished to represent Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, with its open maw, and he could only supervise the building of the first floor of the Anahuacalli and its façade. Thanks to the generosity of Dolores Olmedo and the support of Ruth Rivera, Heriberto Pagelson and architect Juan O'Gorman, it was possible to conclude it.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Man-Made Features • Native Americans. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list.

Location. 19° 19.357′ N, 99° 8.635′ W. Marker is in Ciudad de México. It is in Colonia San Pablo Tepetlapa. Marker can be reached from Calle Museo. The marker is to the left of the Anahuacalli building, just after entering the grounds of the house and museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Calle Museo 150, Ciudad de México 04620, Mexico. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Monument to the Mexican Fallen of 1847 (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Saint Patrick Battalion Plaza

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 6, 2017

3. The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum Marker

(approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Convent of Our Lady of the Angels of Churubusco (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); The Defense at the Battle of Churubusco (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); House of Hernán Cortés (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Agustín Lara (approx. 3.8 kilometers away); Leon Trotsky’s Funeral Column (approx. 4.2 kilometers away); Octavio Nicolás Fernández Vilchis (approx. 4.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ciudad de México.

Regarding The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum. The Anahuacalli House of Diego Rivera was built as an exhibition location for Rivera's pre-hispanic art collection and as a working study for his own artwork. The building makes an interesting counterpoint to the house that he shared with Frida Kahlo, the famous "blue house" located a few kilometers to the north. Rivera likened the location of the Anahuacalli to Montparnasse in Paris, France, where he had studied and painted as a young man.

A view north of the Mexico City center from the top of the Anahuacalli Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 6, 2017

4. A view north of the Mexico City center from the top of the Anahuacalli Museum

Pre-Hispanic sculpture at the Anahuacalli Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 6, 2017

5. Pre-Hispanic sculpture at the Anahuacalli Museum

Photography inside the museum of the massive collection of pre-hispanic art owned by Diego Rivera is restricted.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Carl Van Vechten, March 19, 1932

6. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 12, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.