An Architectural Playground

Once again the great people at ARCHINECT provide a valuable link, this time to the Mexico Skyscraper City Forum, with images on the masterplan of the JVC Center in Guadalajara, Mexico.

A brief background: The JVC (Jorge Vergara Cabrera) Center for Culture, Conventions and Business in Guadalajara is "an unprecedented architectural project that revolutionizes how multi-functional urban complexes are conceived and developed. With an investment of over $500,000,000 and the creation of 8,000 jobs, the Center consists of eleven buildings designed by world-renowned architects for conventions, commercial fairs, sporting events and concerts," sponsored by Grupo Omnilife. According to the Forum, construction has already begun.

Site Plan of JVC Center
Site Plan

1. Coop Himmelb(l)au - Shopping and Entertainment Center
2. Toyo Ito - Museum of Contemporary Art
3. Philip Johnson & Alan Ritchie - Children's World
4. Daniel Libeskind - University of Success
5. Jean Marie Masaud - Stadium
6. Morphosis - Palenque
7. Enrique Norten - Convention Center
8. Jean Nouvel - Omnilife Corporative Offices
9. Carmen Pinõs - Fair Ground

Aerial View of JVC Center
Aerial View

Also participating but not visible in these images:
Teodoro González de León - Omnilife Staff Club House
Zaha Hadid - Hotel
Tod Williams & Billie Tsien - Amphitheater

It will be a long time coming before enough buildings are complete and the success (or failure) of the undertaking becomes evident. As a collection of buildings it is difficult to find any urban or aeshetic relationships present, though this may not be important due to the novelty of the masterplan and the degree of contemporary architecture present. The tabula rasa circumstance gives the architects free reign, so instead of cohesive designs like Chandigarh or Brasilia, the outcome is instead an eclectic mix of buildings related by tourism and commerce.

For more information, check out this page in Spanish (click intro for list of architects and more links). The official Omnilife site also features an animation that requires RealPlayer.