Mexico City: Auditorio Nacional

The styles of curious are, in many ways, styles of building our lives.

From building blocks to legos, to simple words to opuses, what we build grows in complexity but also in style. It develops according to a certain logic, whether the preferences of the builder, the qualities for the materials or the constraints and encouragements of the environment. So too with our knowledge.

Even at a similar juncture in history, and with a shared commitment to a harmony in nature- Anthoni Gaudi and Frank Lloyd Wright, could not help but build in their divergently raucous and reposed ways, respectfully. So how do you build?

~ Chapter 4, Curious Minds: The Power of Connection

And so too of Teodoro González de León. These 3 architects lived in the same era – turn of the 20th century- and embraced technologies to create new ideas. When I look at León’s body of work I am remiss of my past ignorance but Mexico City has woken me up out of that sleepy daze.

I came to the study and research of curiosity in multiple times and space- so it is many years leading to this juncture. A couple years ago I took a photo of the book quoted above at a book shop and more recently in the listening to The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer A Peak Performance Primer, where the criticality of the intrinsic motivators of curiosity, passion, meaning and purpose are the keys to achieving goals, I dug in deep to my passion for research and reading and find myself energized to further discovery.

Peak performance is an infinite game- motivation is what gets you into this game, learning is what helps you to continue to play, creativity is how you steer and flow is how you turbo boost the results.

The building was on my initial list to go to in Mexico city and finally made it. It is very geometric as if taken shapes from a plan view and laid them on top of each other- only to offset them asymmetrically. But there’s also a levity to the sections where the shapes are also shifted vertically creating a sense of lightness to large unbroken planes of materials.

The approaching staircase is quite grand reminded me of the great opera houses. As one walks up the stairs, an attention is paid suddenly to a shifting mindset. Doing a little research I found out that the auditorium is not long ago was retrofitted with a massive speaker system so of course, besides my usual desire to get inside of these creations, now I need to go and experience a show there.

Getting a decent 270 degree walk around of the building, the building is actually best viewed from a memorial (Plaza del Servicio a la Patria) across the street. This memorial is worth visiting as much as the Auditorio itself. Guarded, it has an air of a little sadness, but of great honor and purpose. It welcomes reflection and loss and change – metaphorically through the water – but also to new life through the flame that burns within the sculpture.

Also surrounding this building is a beautiful park Jardín Escénico Chapultepec. Auditorio Nacional was the start of a walk that like in some other posts I will denote here as friends has asked me to do.

Start at the memorial mentioned, walk around the Auditorio Nacional to the other side entering into the Jardín Escénico Chapultepec. Meander through the Jardín south to cross over a pedestrian bridge into main park towards Museo Nacional de Historia Castillo de Chapultepec (the next post coming up). Make sure to check the hours and leave enough time for both the no reservation Comal Oculto and surrounding galleries (food and art). Head to Nevería Roxy (this is one of many locations) for the best ice authentic ice cream (the fruit ones are really the killer) and walk NE on Av. Tamaulipas towards Parque España (or nearby Parque México) to sit and people watch… maybe grab a glass of wine to celebrate the sunset and the ensuing night.

There are 2 moments that I must point out about this day. First, that despite my time keeping to get to Comal Oculto in time to buffer for wait time, I still got there a little too close to last serving time. Nonetheless I wanted to try (and try we must for we are nothing otherwise)- I gave my name and the hostess was very kind to let me know it might not happen. I proceeded to tell her that I came back this time to Mexico City to come to Comal Oculto because it is some of the best food I have ever had in my life- I said this in truth and from the bottom of her heart. Now looking down at my phone to wonder what I would do while I waited to return in 20-30 minutes to try my luck (so much great art nearby, this was my chance)- I heard my name and low and behold I was seated then and there. What grace I felt in that moment and my stomach could not have been more joyful in reward.

Second, I have to acknowledge the blessing of the beauty of this day. Literally a perfect day for a walk. See the clouds reflected in the mirrored windows on the building across the way – as if a reflection into the state of my mind. What luck in time and space I had on this day and may curiosity bring you to this walk where perhaps you too will find some meaning in the architecture of life.