Main achievements in design

Pedro Ramírez Vázquez (April 16, 1919 – April 16, 2013)^[1] was a late twentieth centuryMexican architect. He was born in Mexico City. He was persuaded to study architecture by writer and poet Carlos Pellicer.

Ramírez Vázquez earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from UNAM in 1943. He was responsible for the construction of some of Mexico's most emblematic buildings. He was a modern architect with influences from the European modern movement, Latin American modern architects and precolumbian cultures. Concrete is the material he used most often.

He developed a system to construct schools in rural areas, constructing thousands of schools in Mexico and abroad. The UNICEF has used such system. He was the president of the organizing committee of the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and the World Cup in 1970. He was a pioneer in Mexico of modern graphic design, with the design of the Olympic image. He is a member of the International Olympic Committee.

He won several awards including the National Arts Award in 1973, Cemex Award in 2003 and IDSA's Special Award in 1969 for notable results, creative and innovative concepts and long-term benefits to the industrial design profession, its educational functions and society at large. He was minister of public infrastructure and human settlements during president's José López Portillo government. He was founder and rector of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. He was part of the faculty of the UNAM and received various honorary degrees (doctor honoris causa) granted by several universities including theUNAM.

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ramirez Vazquez was known for stunningly original designs that blended a European modernist sensibility with pre-Columbia aesthetics."

Most representative honours[edit]

• 1956 Honor Award from the International Festival of Architecture and Monumental Art in Paris, France. For the exhibition and book four thousand years of Mexican architecture
• 1958 Golden Star, World's Fair and Expo Brussels, Belgium. By the Mexico Pavilion
• 1960 Grand Prix XII Milan Triennale by the project Aula Bed prefabricated
• 1965 Grand Prize and Gold Medal VIII Bienal de Arte de São Paulo, Brazil. By the National Museum of Anthropology
• 1969 Jean Tschumi Prize. For his career, awarded by the International Union of Architects
• 1969 Special Award from the Industrial Designers Society of America. For excellence in the design of the identity of the 1968 Summer Olympics Games in Mexico
• 1973 National Arts Award granted by the government of Mexico
• 1983 First place and a gold medal for his work in favor of urban development in Mexico, awarded by the International Academy of Architecture in Sofia, Bulgaria
• 1985 Medal of Honor and Merit Officer of the Mexican Red Cross
• 1988 Athletic Sports Medal Government of China, Taiwan. With his background in pro sports
• 1988 Gold Medal by the FIFA for the Azteca Stadium
• 1989 Medal and Diploma Architecture Biennale. For the project at the Universidad Iberoamericana, awarded by the International Academy of Architecture
• 1994 Emeritus Citizen Recognition granted by the Advisory H.Consejo Mexico City
• 1994 National Architecture Award by the Government of Mexico
• 1996 Grand Prix at the International Architecture Merit, awarded at the Fourth Biennial Boliviana de architecture in La Paz, Bolivia
• 1996 Recognition Architect of America, the Pan American Federation of Architects, Brasilia, Brazil
• 1996 Olimpiart Award by the International Olympic Committee
• 1996 Silver Tower, awarded by the cultural divide AC Torre paper, journalistic institution
• 1996 National Steel Award for the house that grows, awarded by the National Chamber of the Iron and Steel
• 1998 Honorary Member of the Higher Colleges of Architects of Spain Council
• 2001 AGHA Award for his contribution to KAN Muslim architecture with the project of the Museum of Nubia, Egypt
• 2003 Honorary Life President of Mexico-Israel Cultural Institute
• Two times candidate for the medal Belisario Domínguez (2007 and 2013), issued by the Mexican Senate, same times was denied by the National Action Party (PAN)

Most relevant official awards[edit]

• 1958 Award in degree of Knight of the Order of the Crown of King Leopold II of Belgium
• 1968 Grand Officer of the Royal Order of Vassa, Sweden
• 1968 Recognition rank of Grand Chief of Ghana, Africa
• 1969 inscription of his name in the golden book of Israel
• 1969 Grand Officer of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
• 1970 Award capable of shining star of the Republic of China
• 1970 Commander of the Order of the Crown of Belgium
• 1975 Commander of the Order of the Lion in Senegal, Africa
• 1978 Gold Medal of the Academy of Architecture in France
• 1978 Commander of Arts and Letters by the French government
• 1978 Grand Gold Medal for European excellence, awarded by the European Union
• 1979 Grand Cross of Civil Merit awarded by the Kingdom of Spain
• 1981 Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
• 1981 Grand Medal of the City of Paris (Echelon Vermeil)
• 1982 Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star, Sweden
• 1995 Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee
• 1996 Grand Cross of the Order of Merit by the government of Luxembourg

Honoris Causa[edit]

• 1969 Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco
• 1969 Autonomous University of the Americas, Mexico City
• 1982 Pratt Institute, New York, USA
• 1990 Autonomous University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
• 1995 Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico
• 1998 National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
• 1999 Anahuac University, Mexico
• 2008 Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Morelos, Mexico

Some of his projects[edit]

Some relevant projects include:

• Estadio Azteca
• National Anthropology Museum
• Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art) in Mexico City
• Museum of the Templo Mayor
• Tijuana Cultural Center
• The new Basilica of Guadalupe
• Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla
• Auditorio Siglo XXI in Puebla
• The Foreign Affairs Secretariat tower in Tlatelolco.
• Medicine School Building UNAM
• Liceo Mexicano Japonés ("Japanese-Mexican Lyceum")^[3][4]
• Legislative Palace of San Lázaro (Mexican House of Representatives)
• Amparo Museum, in Puebla, Mexico
• Japan Embassy in Mexico
• Omega corporate building
• International Olympic Committee headquarters, Lausanne
• Olympic Museum, Lausanne.
• Presidential House in Costa Rica
• Mexico pavilion in New York world's fair
• Mexico pavilion in Seville world's fair
• International Olympic Committee pavilion in Seville world's fair
• Mexico Pavilion at the World Exhibition in Brussels (1958). Brussels world's fair
• Mexico Pavilion at the World Exhibition in Seattle (1962)
• Mexico Pavilion at the World Exhibition in New York. (1964)
• The Museum of Black Cultures in Dakar, Senegal (1971)
• Government Buildings for the new capital of Tanzania in Dodoma. (1975)
• Presidential House in Costa Rica (1976)
• Monument to Fray Anton de Montesinos, Dominican Republic. (1982)
• Museum of Nubia, Egypt (1984).
• Office of the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland (1986).
• Museum of the International Olympic Committee Lausanne, Switzerland (1988).
• The chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the St. Peter in Vatican (1989)
• Mexico Pavilion at the World Exhibition in Seville, Spain (1992).

Main achievements in design[edit]

• 1952 Club America logo FC (being Miguel Ramírez Vázquez President of the Club)
• 1952 Design Exhibition for the Pan American Congress of Architects
• 1957 Corporate image of the Office of Architects Ramírez Vázquez and Mijares
• 1958 Design museology Mexico Pavilion at the Universal Exhibition in Brussels, Belgium (won the gold star of the show)
• 1960 With Julio Prieto and Carmen Antunes, design Museology at the National Gallery of History (Museo del Caracol)
• 1962 Design museology Mexico Pavilion at the Universal Exhibition in Seattle, Washington, USA
• 1964 With Mario Vazquez and Alfonso Soto Soria, museum planning and design of the National Museum of Anthropology and History
• 1964 With Ruth Rivera, planning and design museum Musée National d'Art Moderne
• 1967 Corporate identity of the Third International Sports Week
• 1968 Creator of Mexico 68 identity program and strategic planning for the Olympic Games in Mexico, covering graphic design, furniture design and urban signage, exhibition design, film section, mass media advertising campaign, design of ceremonies, design Publishing, PR campaign, planning the route of the Olympic torch, etc.
• 1970 Corporate image of the Mexican Institute of Child Welfare
• 1970 Commissioned by Guillermo Canedo, realization of typography for the logo Mexico 70
• 1970 Different designs of silverware for TANE, Mexico DF
• 1971 Signalling Design and Urban Furniture for Toluca Tollocan ride, and various municipalities of the State of Mexico
• 1972 Furniture Design for Lopez-Morton SA
• 1972 Grupo Televisa Corporate image
• 1972 Corporate image of the College of Civil Engineers of Mexico
• 1973 Corporate image of the Autonomous Metropolitan University
• 1974 Corporate Image Bank Atlantic
• 1974 Corporate image of Hellenic Cultural Institute
• 1974 Corporate image for Fertilizers of Central America SA
• 1975 Corporate image La Salle University
• 1975 Corporate image design, advertising and strategic communications for the presidential campaign of Lic. José López Portillo
• 1975 Corporate image of Cementos APASCO
• 1976 Corporate image DYNAMICS (Alpha Group)
• 1976 Corporate image BANCAM SA (Monterrey)
• 1976 Corporate image SICARTSA
• 1977 Corporate image Sports Forecast for Public Assistance
• 1977 NOVA Corporate image (Alpha Group)
• 1977 Corporate Image for the National Sports Institute
• 1980 Wallpaper Design for Living Council of FAO, Rome, Italy
• 1985 Logo for the Mexican Health Foundation AC
• 1985-1988 Designs printed on silk to the International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 1986 Design and development of urban atmospheres for the World Cup, and the Estadio Azteca
• 1992 design museum Mexico Pavilion of the Universal Exhibition 92 Sevilla, Spain
• 1997 With Iker Larrauri, planning and design museum Nubia Museum in Aswan Culture, Egypt
• 2007 Museografía exposure Latin Migration for Universal Forum of Cultures, Monterrey
• 2010 logo Coahuilenses Presidents Museum, Saltillo, Coahuila
• 2012 designs in silver Art Object D'argenta SA
• Until 2012, since 1956, different works in editorial design
• Up to 2013 from 1969, designed glassware for Cristaluxus (Monterrey), DAUM (France) and own. There are parts of his own in the Museums of DAUM, (Nancy, France), Museum of Glass (Monterrey), Museum of Death (Zacatecas), Museo Amparo (Puebla), Olympic Museum (Lausanne, Switzerland), Ski Museum Hollmenkollen, (Oslo, Norway), STAUBO Museum Collection (Hamar, Norway)