Centro de Cultura Digital

A space located under a monument that represents Mexico's past but looks into the future of Mexican society.

At the end of 2011 a team called "Colectivo Estela de Luz" was formed by Francisco Rentería, Taller de Arquitectura, Rozana Montiel, and siete|media. The objective of the collective was to develop the general concept of a space of about 3,000 square meters that is under the Estela de Luz in Mexico City.

The idea we came up with was to make a space dedicated to digital arts so we suggested the name "Centro de Cultura Digital" CCD.

The Estela de Luz represents, as a historical monument, the past of our country (Independence and Revolution). The central idea of creating a space like this is to celebrate history but at the same time look to the future as a society through art, technology, and digital creativity.

The CCD is now used to present the most avant-garde artistic expressions of Mexico and other countries. The 110-meter-high Stela is a digital canvas that is activated by mobile devices, a 30-meter-long interactive video wall as a canvas for code art, an ethereal space that serves as a space for social reflection, and an open canvas for sound artists. These are the ideas that we developed for the creation of this place that was finally realized by the then-called Conaculta, nowadays Secretaría de Cultura.

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A space devoted to digital creativity

In addition to these specific installations, it was proposed to use the entire space as a "black box" where the walls are movable to adapt to the needs of the events programmed annually. Spaces for film screenings and conferences, forums for contemporary dance, and spaces for electronic music concerts. Our main contribution was to create a community space to bring together young people with the most advanced digital ideas in the country. During the following year to the inauguration, the CCD also had the opportunity to work closely with former director Grace Quintanilla (1967-2019) and her great team, creating the museography for various exhibitions.