MEXICO CITY, Mexico — The iconic concrete umbrella structure dominates the central courtyard of the National Museum of Anthropology, designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez in 1964. The dramatic architectural feature, supported by a single pillar, serves both as a sculptural focal point and a practical shelter. The innovative design exemplifies mid-century Mexican modernist architecture while providing a striking centerpiece for Mexico's premier archaeological museum.
Photograph by David Coleman. The National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) features this remarkable concrete umbrella structure as the centerpiece of its central courtyard. Designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and constructed in 1964, this architectural element consists of a massive concrete canopy supported by a single column, from which water cascades into a fountain below. The structure stands as both a functional shelter and an engineering achievement of its time, demonstrating the innovative spirit of mid-century Mexican modernism. The concrete umbrella measures 82 feet in height and weighs 1,000 tons, with the canopy spreading to cover nearly 4,000 square feet of the courtyard. The museum complex, located in Mexico City's Chapultepec Park, represents one of the most significant examples of modernist architectural design in Mexico, combining contemporary architectural elements with spaces designed to house the nation's most important archaeological treasures.
Size: 6706px × 4476px
Location: Bosque de Chapultepec I Sección, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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