Centro Cultural Bella Época
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The Centro Cultural Bella Epoca is a cultural 3,000 square meter cultural centre in the Condesa neighborhood in
Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
. It includes the Rosario Castellanos bookshop (claimed to be the largest bookshop in Latin America) which carries over 35 thousand different titles, and has a children’s area, a coffee shop, and reading facilities. The ''Cine Lido'' art cinema and ''Galería Luis Cardoza y Aragón'' art gallery are also housed in the cultural center.


History

The building occupied by the cultural centre began its life as the ''Cine Lido'' cinema in 1942. It was designed in
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
style by the American architect Charles Lee. At some point the cinema changed its name to ''Bella Época''. In 1999 the city's government acquired the building but was unable to come up with any use for it. Finally in 2003 the government owned ''Fondo de Cultura Económica'' bought the building with the intention of turning it into a cultural centre.


Renewal

The renewal project was in charge of Mexican architect Teodoro González de León, who also directed the construction of the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum and the renewal of the
National Auditorium National Auditorium () is an entertainment center at Paseo de la Reforma #50, Chapultepec in Mexico City. The National Auditorium is considered among the world's best venues by specialized media. It was designed by Mexican architects Pedro Ram ...
in
Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
, among other projects. The original
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
architecture of the building exterior was preserved. The 2,000 square meters glass ceiling was designed by Dutch artist
Jan Hendrix Jan Hendrix (born 1949) is a Dutch-born artist who has lived and worked in Mexico since 1978. Hendrix received the Order of the Aztec Eagle from the Mexican government for his work in art and architecture. Art All projects start with drawing a ...
and it explores natural forms with a simulated Arab writing.


External links

*â
Official Centro Cultural Bella Época website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Centro Cultural Bella Epoca 1942 establishments in Mexico 20th-century architecture in Mexico Art Deco architecture in Mexico Arts in Mexico City Buildings and structures completed in 1942 Buildings and structures in Mexico City Condesa Cultural centers in Mexico Cultural heritage of Mexico