Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - This past week, several proposed architectural designs were presented for Puerto Vallarta's new Museum of Art, which will be built on the site of the Municipal Presidency in the heart of El Centro.

The designs were evaluated considering their integration with the environment. Architect Manuel Rocha stated that, in addition to the design of the facade, the final design must also adhere to the city's architectural and engineering rules of construction.

The proposed plans were submitted to the Commission on Special Projects of the Municipal Council of Urban Development, in which the architects of the workshop included those that have won international awards for their building designs.

For example, the most recent was from the Oaxaca the School of Visual Arts, for a museum which won the biennial of Quito, as it was designed and constructed to blend with the region using sustainable materials, and is a great addition to the improvements in the city of Oaxaca.

Although a definitive blueprint was not chosen, proposals were submitted that contained open spaces and large windows, with the final design considering the city's desired floor plan.

Despite this, College of Engineers President Antonio Escobedo Pulido and CUC Representative Teresa Casado say that before submitting their blueprints, presenting architects must read the existing building regulations in regard to open spaces within the infrastructure of Puerto Vallarta.

Rocha stressed that while regulation needs to be updated, which has not been accomplished since 1997, the designs should be in line with modern architecture and new guidelines. The idea is to preserve the typical image of Puerto Vallarta's Plaza Principal.

Teresa Casado, Coordinator of the Architectural Department of the Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUC), considered that the project is still very ambiguous, but understood that the idea is to find new niche markets and more modern attractions for the city center.

Though the proposed plans for the new museum will be reviewed by the Municipal Council of Urban Development to verify compliance with existing regulations, the council intends to make adjustments for designs that reflect Puerto Vallarta's new, more contemporary, image.