Guggenheim Museum abandoned plans to build a branch in Guadalahare
ARTinvestment.RU   23 июня 2008

Ambitious architectural project proved too costly for Mexico

In 2004, became aware of plans to build a Guggenheim Museum branch in the next Guadalahare, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It was announced that the architect of the new museum will become a Mexican Enrique Norte. His project is a 24-storey white tower height of 180 meters. It was expected that the museum in Guadalahare (the first draft of the corporation Guggenheim in Latin America) will open its doors to visitors to the Pan American Games in 2011.

However, recently it became known that the ambitious project will be implemented. Businessman and art collector Jorge Bergara said that the project cost was too high. Chapter Guggenheim Foundation Thomas Krens insisted on building a huge museum like the Guggenheim Bilbao, which could become a major tourist attraction of the city. Museum in Bilbao, which was built by Frank Geri, is an example of a successful project - see its rich collection of modern art and large-scale exhibition come from all over the world. The museum building, which is called «manifesto dekonstruktivizma», is one of the main sights of the Basque Country. However, it seems, in Guadalahare not be able to create something similar. All «Guggenheim» famous for its gigantic scale, and the head of Guggenheim Foundation Thomas Krensu had to «keep the mark». Originally planned that the project budget will be 170 million dollars. To this must be added 20 million to the Guggenheim Foundation. Neither the Government of Mexico, or even private investors were unable to «pull» such amount. Mr. Bergara said that the state can afford only the 30 millionth draft. Therefore decided to stop construction.

Now the main project Guggenheim Foundation abroad - a museum in Abu Dhabi, the construction of which again attracted Frank Geri. Oh, this is certainly a museum to be built: huge capital Dubai sheikhs allow most extravagant projects. Guggenheim Museum also together with the Hermitage for the construction of the museum in Vilnius , which will be the architect Zaha Hadid. Now there are four «Guggenheim» (in New York, Bilbao, Venice and Berlin), as well as a «Guggenheim-Hermitage» (Las Vegas).

Julia Maksimova

Sources: theartnewspaper.com , noticiasarquitectura.info , artinvestment.ru