Palace of Fine Arts

CyArk documented the Palacio de Bellas Artes in October 2018 in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA) and the Agenda Digital de Cultura office of the Secretaria de Cultura. The focus of the expedition was to document the monuments exterior surfaces as well as the main theatre and stage within the monument. CyArk used a combination of laser scanning with a FARO X330 and terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry completed with a Nikon D810 and Phantom 4 Pro drone respectively. Access to the roof of the monument was provided to CyArk staff as the chief architect of the Palacio wanted accurate as built records of the utility ducting that surrounds the structure. As the monument is highly trafficked, CyArk took advantage of a planned closure of the monument to document the gardens and front facade. Known as the greatest house of culture in Mexico, the Palacio de Bellas Artes was built upon the site of the first National Theatre, in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Mexico's independence from Spain. Issues related to the soft subsoil as well as political unrest during the Mexican Revolution necessitated several delays and construction was not completed until 1934. The exterior of the building is done primarily in the Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles while the interior is predominantly Art Deco. Both the interior and exterior of the building feature a variety of architectural elements drawn from Mexican history and culture and the building is also home to several important murals created by famous Mexican artists like Diego Rivera and David Siquieros. One of the most iconic monuments in Mexico City, he building has and continues to host some of the most noteworthy performances and exhibitions. External Project Link: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/BgIyValw0p1xLg Additional Info Link: https://cyark.org/projects/palacio-de-bellas-artes