Inbal promised to review the state of the Metro Viaducto lattice

Given the complaints on social networks of “the destruction” of a lattice wall and colored acetates in the Viaducto Metro station, designed by the renowned Mexican architect Enrique del Moral, the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal) informed The Day that personnel from that instance would carry out “a tour and visit” to that site yesterday “to verify the status” of that piece.

“After that, we will be able to inform,” the agency promised, through the Directorate of Diffusion and Public Relations, when asked to specify whether such work is under its protection as architectural heritage.

The stations that are in this condition, according to the Metro Collective Transport System (STC), are Candelaria and San Lázaro – which connect lines 1 and 4, as well as Metro lines 1 and B, respectively –, both designed by the famous Spanish architect Félix Candela (1910-1997).

In a tour also carried out this Friday, this newspaper confirmed that the aforementioned lattice wall – located at the back of the access to that station, entering the Tlalpan road towards the south – does present, in addition to deterioration, obvious damage to its right side – seen from the front –, as well as missing acetate pieces.

The damage consists of the destruction of elements of its concrete structure, and even some metal rods are visible. In front of the affected area there are a pair of yellow plastic preventive tapes with the legend “Caution” in black, as well as a blanket with a symbol of a construction worker and partitions, in addition to the inscription “Caution. Construction site.”

Between pollins and sacks

A trading post blocks much of the visibility of the left side of the lattice. Despite the announcement of the works and the fact that, on the floor of the station, in front of the ticket offices, several wooden rollers and sacks of rubble were arranged, no workers were observed on site.

The STC, through its Social Communication area, affirmed to The Day that said wall, like the rest of that station, is undergoing renovation work, and assured that none of the elements in that space are under protection from Inbal as architectural heritage.

A similar wall, located at the opposite access of that same station, on the Tlalpan road towards the Center, will be evaluated to see if it is also necessary to undergo a renovation process, said said instance.

According to historical sources, it was also carried out by Enrique del Moral as part of the comprehensive design he made for the nine stations that comprise the section from Tasqueña to Pino Suárez.

Later, the Metro issued an information card in which it recalls that “comprehensive architectural rehabilitation work is currently being carried out in stations on Line 2.”

In relation to the lattices located at the Viaducto station, it details that “the replacement of the current pieces will be carried out, preserving the original design, which present advanced deterioration derived from environmental factors.”

He said that these elements, composed of concrete criss-cross structures and 2-millimeter acetate sheets, “show critical signs of cracking, moisture leaks and persistent accumulation of dirt that compromises security and the institutional image.” Even, he points out, some original pieces had already been replaced by acrylics.

“This condition allows the updating of degraded materials with contemporary solutions of greater durability, respecting the essence of the original design, but guaranteeing a long useful life and lower preventive maintenance costs.”

To conclude, the Metro highlights that Line 2 – which connects Cuatro Caminos with Tasqueña in 23.4 kilometers and 24 stations – was inaugurated in 1970 and has been in operation for 56 years. Likewise, it reiterates its “commitment to continually renew the facilities.”