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FUNDACIÓN PAIZ
PARQUE CULTURA

PARQUE CULTURA – REIMAGINING LEGACY THROUGH OPEN CULTURE

In collaboration with Fundación Paiz and a team of branding and organizational restructuring specialists, TORUS led the architectural and strategic transformation of one of Guatemala’s most emblematic cultural institutions. Rooted in a profound respect for the Paiz family’s legacy, the project reimagines its historic heritage home not as a static monument, but as the starting point for an open, living dialogue with the city.

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The centerpiece of this transformation is Parque Cultura, a new cultural center that symbolizes the Foundation’s decision to “open its arms to the community.” Designed as a five-story beacon of light and inclusivity, the building emerges behind the preserved family house with a respectful setback that allows the historic home to serve as both architectural anchor and scenic backdrop. A semi-public amphitheater connects the old and the new, fostering both continuity and openness.

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The architecture humanizes the site by removing physical and symbolic barriers. Perimeter walls are dismantled to make room for generous public space, while the new building’s white, translucent skin creates a sense of permeability—allowing views into open workshops, galleries, offices, and a blackbox theater. Ramps and staircases weave through the structure in translucent form, revealing human movement as a metaphor for an active and participatory cultural environment.

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Parque Cultura embodies a vision where culture is visible, accessible, and shared. With generous parking, a city-facing program, and a design that promotes transparency and activity, the project becomes an emblem for how private legacy can become public value—and how architecture can help democratize culture in Guatemala City.

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