adminLuis Barragán was a Mexican architect who had designed a series of projects influenced by Le Corbusier. Many of Barragán’s projects were considered to have qualities of “global imagination, vague notions of silence, mystery, serenity, and thick walls in sensual colors that did not match Mexican tradition” (Anaya, 2020). Each work that he has done, he has been noticed to put his all into, his soul has been seen from observers, day in and day out. Today, his work is still considered to be modern but does not go under the umbrella of a modernist. Words like magic and surprise are used to describe each one of his projects, for each one transports the observer to a different place, one that is open, not within the city confines, and out of reality. All of his known and remembered works of architecture have a touch of where he came from however, the series that was forgotten and are still taken for granted are located in Mexico-within the capitol and on the outskirts. The people of Mexico had left Barragán’s projects at Parque Melchor Ocampo 38 and his house in Tacubaya or what is known as the Ortega House and Garden, the way he had sold them.
His forgotten projects within his home country seem to demonstrate more of his abilities and his passion within the architectural field which make his designs more memorable to me. Here he turned cramped, oddly-shaped city homes into expanses of light within another world, not defined by society and how buildings should be, welcoming. He made living spaces without 90º corners (focusing more on obtuse and acute) and wide windows to let light in to expand the look of the room which I believe show how he can think out of the box in such a confined/ungiving subject material.
Luis Barragán’s was a known architect who isn’t known for his business side even though it had helped him through his acquisitions and projects. Many people while he was designing had ignored this part of him. I, however, believe it gave him the edge to follow his passion, influences from Le Corbusier from Poissy France. From buildings that seemed to be welcoming and dark, to completely flipped he was able to demonstrate exactly how good an architect he was. Accomplishing this type of work might seem to the naked eye like a piece of pie but, it’s a lot of work and an art work of its own. Many times, architecture is seen more of a branch of engineering considering it has more to do with buildings and coexists with the structure and stability. However, when looking upon Barragán and even Corbusier’s architectural works, it can be seen almost sculptural; three dimensional, colors, the shape of the rooms, and the way the windows and walls connect with each other.
The description of Barragán’s projects from Suleman Anaya’s perspective it easy to fall for Barragán’s projects, including the photos of the two forgotten places. To me it would be hard to forget any Barragán’s projects, the way he puts all his soul into them. Even now with trees and plants overtaking certain aspects of the land it still looks magical and otherworldly. These types of projects aren’t made daily and shouldn’t be taken for granted or forgotten, they should be reserved like the art work they are.