Publication

  • LIGA Vol. 1: Even Small Spaces Start Small
    Carlos Bedoya, Ruth Estevez, Wonne Ickx, Victor Jaime, and Abel Perles
    Editors
    Arquine, 2014
  • GRANTEE
    LIGA-Space for Architecture
    GRANT YEAR
    2013

Eduardo Castillo, LIGA 09: Opaque Sound, 2013, Mexico City. Photo: Ramiro Chaves.

LIGA Vol. 1 is a publication that combines the first ten architectural exhibitions at LIGA, Space for Architecture, into a comprehensive book. LIGA opened its doors in May 2010 as a cutting-edge pioneering space in Mexico City, to enhance the cultural debate on architecture in Latin America. More than ten young firms have shown their ideas, designs, and working methods in exhibitions at LIGA. These installations are complemented by public events, discussions, screenings, and workshops, making LIGA a lively space that creates community and establishes dialogue between professionals and others interested in the role of architecture in Latin America. The book contains ten exhibition proposals and their accompanying texts, as well as other essays that question the role of architecture exhibitions in contemporary society.

PRODUCTORA is a Mexico City–based office founded in 2006 by Abel Perles (b. 1972, Argentina), Carlos Bedoya (b. 1973, Mexico), Victor Jaime (b. 1978, Mexico), and Wonne Ickx (b. 1974, Belgium). Their individual educational backgrounds and professional experiences give the studio a diverse approach to each assignment. PRODUCTORA develops its ideas through intuitive explorations and continuous production rather than adherence to an established strategy of development. Therefore, the name PRODUCTORA—Spanish for “producer” or “production company”—indicates continuous production as a testing method. The office is realizing a variety of projects in Mexico and abroad (Asia, South America), ranging from single-family dwellings to office or public buildings. PRODUCTORA's work is published nationally and internationally and the office engages continuously in national and international competitions. They won the Young Architect's Forum organized by the Architectural League of New York (2007), and their work has been presented at the 2nd Architectural Biennale in Beijing (2006), the exhibition 44 Young Architects in Barcelona, Spain (2007), and the Venice Biennale (2008). PRODUCTORA was selected by Herzog & de Meuron as one of the architectural studios to build a villa for the Ordos100 Project in Inner Mongolia, China, and they won the International Competition for the CAF Headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, in collaboration with Lucio Muniain (2008).

Ruth Estevez is the director and curator of the gallery at REDCAT, Los Angeles. From 2007–11 Estevez served as the chief curator at the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico City, where she curated various exhibitions and projects with artists such as Mark Manders, Guy Ben-Ner, Matt Mullican, and Fernando Ortega, among others. In 2010, Estevez cofounded liga-Space for Architecture, the first space in Latin America devoted to the critical reflection and presentation of architecture and urbanism. Estevez has written extensively for various exhibition catalogues and art publications. She holds an MA in art history from Mexico's National Autonomous University, where she is currently a doctoral candidate.

LIGA, Space for Architecture, is an exhibition platform based in Mexico City. Founded in January 2011, LIGA promotes the exchange of ideas and the investigation of contemporary architectural practice in Latin America. It is a space of encounter to enhance the dialogue among professionals and those interested in architecture. We focus mainly on Latin America, but the space is open to other international proposals to expand contexts and open the debate.