Museo del Libro y de la Lengua Horacio González, Literature and language museum in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Museo del Libro y de la Lengua Horacio González is a museum annex to the Biblioteca Nacional, designed by Clorindo Testa with Bullrich and opened in 2011. It occupies two former public-office buildings on Avenida Las Heras, freeing the library's frontage. The ground floor holds a permanent exhibition on the book and Argentine publishing houses; the upper floor is for temporary art shows. Four lunettes from the Galerías Pacífico murals, painted by Spilimbergo, Berni and others, are displayed on the walls while under restoration.
In 2006 the future museum was announced as the Museo del Libro y el Autor Clásico Argentino, to occupy two disused buildings on Avenida Las Heras within the block of the Biblioteca Nacional. The project by Clorindo Testa and Bullrich was presented in January 2008; Cristina Fernández de Kirchner signed the construction agreement in January 2010, with a budget of 10 million pesos. It was inaugurated on 29 September 2011 and opened to the public on 10 October. Since 22 June 2022 it bears the name of Horacio González, former director of the Library.
The ground floor displays exhibits about how books have been published and distributed in Argentina through different periods. The upper levels feature rotating contemporary art exhibitions that explore the relationship between visual art and written words.
The museum stands on Avenida Las Heras, beside the Biblioteca Nacional, in the Recoleta area; the two former public-office buildings on the block were reused for it, and its front opens the view of the library from the avenue. The rooftop holds four lunettes cut from the original Galerías Pacífico murals, painted by Spilimbergo, Berni and others, dismantled in 1990 and still being restored in place. The ground floor holds the permanent exhibition on the book and Argentine publishing; the upper floor is for temporary art shows.
The building itself was designed by one of Argentina's most acclaimed 20th century architects, making it an interesting example of modern design. Its layout and structure make it more than simply a container for books and language displays.
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