Design: Paz Arquitectura Architect: Alejandro Paz Location: Guatemala City Date of construction: 2022 Area of construction: 79 m2 Photography: Juan Carlos Mencos/Catafixia Carpentry: Pablo Cazali
Catafixia is a bookstore created by two lady writers. This organization has published more than 150 books through 15 years with a genuine interest in social science, contemporary art, culture, literature and poetry to create social conscience.
Although the walls are occupied by shelves filled with books, they are not only the product of Catafixia but a good sort of other works published by other entities.
The site is in a legendary passage in the historic center of Guatemala City. Such passage unifies sixth avenue, a pedestrian street with a large amount of traffic with the central plaza. This is an area with a large amount of history through the different activities that have occurred there.
The locale has certain. Characteristics of architecture from 100 years. High ceilings and adobe walls picture the mutant stages of its life. The locale also has a long passage that duplicates its area. The design strategy was to open the façade to be able to be used as a café/bar/reunion point, generating a connection between the user and the passage. The walls are occupied by bookshelves so the specific function is directed toward the main theme: The books.