Biblioteca/ vasconcelos/ library

With a visual language that combines elegance. freshness and sustainability. Central de Arquitectura has achieved a distinguishedposition in the world of new Mexican architecture in only 11 years of existence. This beautifully produced catalogue of ten projects by the firm. including housing. hotels and office buildings. brings to light modern efforts to reuse existing industrial material the swimming pools at the ultra-hip Hotel Basico in Playa del Carmen. for example. are made from water containers that were originally designed for the oil industry. The striking images are enhanced by commentary in Spanish and English by architecture critic Fernanda Canales. whose opening essay and subsequent brief commentary explore and celebrate the firm s refreshingly 21st century aesthetic.