Monterrey’s Contemporary Art Museum (MARCO) in Monterrey, Mexico

MARCO, Monterrey's Contemporary Art Museum, opened in 1991, designed by Ricardo Legorreta, who was influenced by the Tapatía architectural school. The Tapatía style draws inspiration from traditional Mexican haciendas, characterized by open-air courtyards and separate buildings. Legorreta incorporated hacienda elements into MARCO's design, notably a central indoor courtyard resembling a hacienda's well or fountain. Monterrey's climate and surrounding mountains, including Cerro de la Silla, influenced the museum's design. A central "Patio de las Esculturas" provides an outdoor space with a view of Cerro de la Silla, acting as a counterpart to a hacienda's stables. The museum uses linear volumes and bold colors, typical of the Tapatía style, notably "Mexican pink". High walls enclose the patio, lowering towards Cerro de la Silla to emphasize the mountain view. A minimalist walkway with geometric columns provides shade, unlike the vegetation-filled patios of traditional haciendas. The open patio offers a space for temporary sculptural exhibitions, with the sky and mountain as the only natural elements. The museum successfully blends traditional Mexican architecture with modern design.