Brutalism, the architectural movement that has gained relevance thanks to the film directed by Brady Corbet and winner of three Oscars, had a significant impact in Mexico, and Tampico was no exception.
The architects and professors of the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Tampico (IEST), Rubén Salvador Roux Gutiérrez and María José Compean Anaya, explained that the arrival of brutalism in Mexico, and consequently in our port, is largely due to Teodoro González de León.
Brutalism at the UAT, an emblematic example
This Mexican architect worked in Europe with Le Corbusier, one of the main promoters of this movement after the Second World War, and was deeply influenced by this trend characterized by fast, monumental, functional and unadorned constructions. “Machines for living.”
Law Building
The pergola in the center as well as its staircase are characteristic elements of the UAT Law building / Alejandro Del Ángel
González de León, the specialists pointed out, was responsible for the project for the building that would house the School of Law, today the main building of the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (UAT), which opened its doors in 1950.
“Everything that represents brutalism is in that building. And although it is now painted orange and blue, it remained for a long time with this finish without any coating, color or finish,” said Compean Anaya.
For his part, Roux Gutiérrez indicated that it was a very interesting project that stands out for the pergola in the center of the building, as well as its staircase and did not hesitate to describe it as “a great work.”
“Its function was to gather people, because it was the first thing they did (at the UAT), later they did other things like where the administrative offices are, but they no longer have anything to do with this style,” he said.
Other examples of brutalism in Tampico
In addition to the UAT building, there are other buildings in Tampico that reflect the influence of brutalism. One of them is the facilities of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), located in the Campbell neighborhood. “This style has a very rough, grainy finish, and the building is very large, very tall,” said Compean Anaya.
CFE Campbell
Another example is the Banamex building, located on Hidalgo Avenue, in the Águila neighborhood. Although it is currently painted white, it retains all the elements of brutalism: monumentality, functionality and absence of ornamentation.
“What there is is what you see,” said Compean Anaya, referring to the austerity in the materials and structure that defines this style.
Likewise, the architect mentioned that in our country multi-family buildings are also a clear expression of Le Corbusier’s ideas. “They are vertical condominiums that seek to bring people together, with green spaces and services nearby; there is brutalist architecture there.”
Tampico: A mosaic of architectural styles
Although brutalism left its mark on Tampico, specialists agree that the city does not have a predominant architectural style. Instead, there is a diversity of currents that reflect different eras and influences.
“In the historic center we can see a lot of French architecture and we even have a lot of influence from the architecture of New Orleans; the style of ornamentation and columns very much like New York, something very clear in the Águila building of Pemex; even Tampico was known at the time as the ‘New York of Mexico’,” said the architect.
In addition, in the city there are contemporary proposals such as the Metropolitan Cultural Space and the Expo Tampico Convention Center, where styles from the past are mixed with new trends.
“There are no longer buildings that are merely brutalist or buildings that are classical, there is always a variation of something or a mix of trends. The truth is that Tampico has had some very good experiences in terms of architecture,” he said about brutalism in Tampico, and the buildings that reflect this architectural style.
Source: oem
