Program

Architectural tour: Downtown/ Macroplaza

Hosted by the Monterrey Chapter of the National Academy of Architecture (ANAMty)

Guided by:
Architect Roberto Chapa Garza, PhD. Rena Porsen Overgaard, and Architect Jorge Galván Special participation and accompaniment by PhD. Celia Arredondo Zambrano and architect Fernando López Martínez, experts in modern Mexican architecture.

MACROPLAZA OF MONTERREY:

The Macroplaza is one of the largest and most iconic public spaces in the city of Monterrey. Inaugurated in 1984, it spans 40 hectares and combines green areas, fountains, and historical monuments. Among its attractions are the Faro del Comercio, the Neptune Fountain, the City Theater, and the Central State Library. This place is a cultural and social gathering point, surrounded by buildings of great historical value and different architectural styles.

PROGRAM:

The tour begins at 09:00 AM with a departure from Hotel Camino Real Monterrey. We’ll start with a visit to the lobby of the Marco Museum, designed by architect Ricardo Legorreta, followed by the “Faro del Comercio,” a monumental sculpture by architect Luis Barragán Morfin. The group will walk along Zaragoza Street to see the Monterrey Metropolitan Cathedral in Baroque style dating back to 1791, the Casino Monterrey building, and the ancient Chapel of the Sweet Names (Dulces Nombres). The tour continues with a walk through the central part of Macroplaza, where participants will see the City Theater building, the Infonavit building, the State Congress building, and the Central State Library "Fray Servando Teresa de Mier," all representative of Mexican modern and brutalist architecture. There will be a visit to the Mexican History Museum by architects Óscar Bulnes and Augusto Álvarez. A self-guided tour of the MARCO Museum is scheduled. Finally, at 01:00 PM, the bus will depart from the MARCO Museum to return to Camino Real Monterrey.

Architectural tour: Paseo Santa Lucía/ Fundidora Park

Hosted by the Monterrey Chapter of the National Academy of Architecture (ANAMty)

Guided by:
Architect Roberto Chapa Garza, PhD. Rena Porsen Overgaard, and Architect Jorge Galván Special participation and accompaniment by PhD. Celia Arredondo Zambrano and architect Fernando López Martínez, experts in modern Mexican architecture.

Paseo Santa Lucía is a 2.5-kilometer artificial canal that connects downtown Monterrey with Fundidora Park. Inaugurated in 2007, it is a popular tourist destination, ideal for boat rides and walks. Along the canal, one can admire sculptures, murals, and green areas. It is an example of urban revitalization that promotes the integration of nature with city life, offering a unique cultural and recreational experience.

PROGRAM:

The itinerary starts at 02:00 PM with a departure from Hotel Camino Real Monterrey. The tour includes a visit to the Steel Museum designed by Grimshaw Architects, followed by a 2.5 km boat ride through Fundidora Park and Paseo Santa Lucía, narrating the history and anecdotes of the city’s most emblematic and ancient neighborhoods. The group will also visit the monumental sculpture “La Lagartera” by Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo and enjoy a free self-guided tour of the Mexican History Museum. Finally, at 05:00 PM, the bus will depart from the Mexican History Museum to return to Camino Real Monterrey.

STUDIO VISITS: Brands&People / Cadena Concepts

Cadena Concepts (http://cadena-asociados.com)

Cadena Concepts® is a multidisciplinary firm with more than 20 years of experience imagining solutions where design, innovation and creativity become real tools for transformation; its interdisciplinary and collaborative approach is based on a methodology that solves problems from the encounter of science and intuition, making each project a wonderful process of thought and creation.

Brands&People (https://www.brands.mx/)

Brands&People is a multi-disciplinary creative agency – part of TBWA global network – with offices in Austin, TX and Monterrey, Mexico, devoted to delivering to clients strategic branding and creative design that serves as a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace. Their unique corporate structure with a team of over 100 multidisciplinary creative, strategic thinkers foster singular executions that tap into the latest trends in marketing, art, technology, and design. The end result is transformative value for brands pioneering change. Recent clients include Netflix, McDonald’s, Gatorade, BudLight, Lowes, GNC, and Strap Tech.

TEQUILA TASTING: