On a recent trip to Mexico we discovered the work of Luis Barragán (1902-1988), a famed Mexican architect who pioneered his own brand of Mexican modernism. He worked for many years with little recognition, mostly on residential projects, until 1975 when the Museum of Modern Art, New York honored him with a retrospective of his work. His house in Mexico City is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Modernism is characterised by earth tones and minimal colour. While Luis’ style was minimal in form, his strong use of colour made his work unique, distinctive and true to his cultural heritage. He was known for his incredibly creative use of light, often incorporating colour to amplify and reflect natural light. His design philosophy: “any work of architecture which does not express serenity is a mistake.” Agreed!
