Year of construction: 2011-2013 Location: Guatemala City Design: Paz Arquitectura – Alejandro Paz Contributors: Gabriel Rodriguez, Camila Vizcaino, Alejandra Tuchan, Daniel Escobar, Alex Titus, Claudia Pessarozzi, Carlos Mendizabal, Mario Roberto Paz Construction: Conarq Photography: Andrés Asturias
Having abandoned its primary task as a movie theater, the Lux Theater, designed by Rodolfo Bader and built in the 30s by Antonio Holzheu, needed a new identity for the use of its facilities, clearly Art Deco and to inject dynamics to the spaces for the benefit of the public who would make use of it as a destiny or an ocasional visit to the walkway on Sixth Avenue in the Historic Center of Guatemala City.
Finding it in a definite deterioration state caused by the intense use during 80 years, and also because of several changes in its original structure, the challenge began looking to recover its original use while updating its amenities for a contemporary public.
The comunal areas were recovered, restoring the original floor and adding two sets of restrooms, to satisfy its visitors. During this stage, the front façade was restored, and the electric and hidraulic instalations were updated.
In a second stage, a new restaurant (Café Saúl) was built in the original foyer toward 6th Avenue.
The third stage was in the second and third levels to be occupied by the Spanish Cultural Center, to strengthen the relationship between Spanish an Guatemalan cultures.
The second level was adapted to house an auditorium, a small movie theater and a conference room. The third level was modified extensively to modify the original slope of the theater and level it to house exhibition spaces for the visual arts. It also houses a Media Room and the cultural promotion offices.
Trying to avoid the traditional restoration method, the original surfaces of the building were exposed to reveal the original materials of the structure through the different stages of remodeling. In some areas, the process revealed several coats of paint that were left exposed as a final visual effect, and the concrete structure and brick walls are left also exposed to be part of the contemporary language of the building.
It was important to add an elevator so the original building would comply with present rules of universal accessibility so it was treated with a contemporary approach.
Everything combined, it produced a complex that has been functional and attractive for its intended function.