In recent decades, Guadalajara’s thriving contemporary art scene has positioned the city as a vital cultural hub in Mexico. PLATAFORMA, a new contemporary art space, broadens its program with Bar de la Cruz. Housed within a building designed in the 1970s by celebrated architect Armando Sube Ibarra, the structure originally served as a funeral home and became a landmark of functionalist architecture on Av. Vallarta. After standing vacant for over two decades, architect Sergio Ortiz has reimagined this dormant relic, transforming it into a vibrant space dedicated to contemporary art and culture.
Bar de la Cruz occupies the third level of PLATAFORMA. Once a space defined by the duality of life and death and the rituals surrounding this passage, it has now been converted into a hub for celebration, social connection, and creative exchange. The intervention honors the building’s existing architectural features, such as the cross-shaped windows and yellow ceramic-tiled floors, which evoke an introspective, almost monastic atmosphere. These elements reference the spiritual influence of Jalisco’s architects, such as Luis Barragán and even Sergio Ortiz himself, while paying homage to the region’s craftsmanship.
A defining feature of the project is the design of three red cedar booths—intimate enclaves that accommodate up to five guests. Inside these booths, the wood’s aroma and moody lighting ignite intimate conversations among close friends, foster art market transactions, or even frame the beginning of a first date. A playful, voyeuristic twist is introduced through shutter windows connecting the booths, subtly inviting interaction and sparking spontaneous connections among guests.
The material palette celebrates Jalisco’s artisanal heritage, incorporating rattan, leather, and blown glass. The bar front, composed of over 50 backlit red blown glass pieces, highlights the intrinsic beauty of handcrafted imperfections. Kenya Rodríguez Estudio, responsible for the interiors, expanded this homage to local craftsmanship through custom furniture, including tabletops of blown glass and leather pedestals adorned with pitiado stitching—a nod to the region’s equestrian traditions.
This reimagined landmark is more than just a bar—it is an evocative journey into Jalisco’s material history and traditional culture.
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