Inaugural Opening of Museo Soumaya in Mexico City

On March 1, 2011, the Museo Soumaya in Mexico City opened the doors of its new building with an inaugural event. The Museo Soumaya is a private art museum that was founded in 1994 by the Carlos Slim Foundation. It houses art collected by billionaire Carlos Slim and his late wife Soumaya. The collection includes sculptures by Rodin and Dalí­, European paintings from the 15th through the 20th century, and Mexican art.

The 20,000 square meters of exhibition space are divided among five floors. There are also an auditorium, a cafe, offices, a gift shop, a multipurpose lobby, and storage space. The top floor of the Museo Soumaya is the largest space in the museum. Its roof is suspended from a cantilever that allows natural daylight in. The facade of the asymmetrical building is made from hexagonal aluminium modules. The museum has been designed by architectes FREE Fernando Romero.

Watch President Felipe Calderón and Larry King inaugurating Carlos Slim’s Soumaya museum in Mexico City. By VernissageTV correspondent Jacinto Astiazarán.

Museo Soumaya, Mexico City / Mexico. Inaugural opening, March 1, 2011.

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