Casa Luis Barragan, 1948

Street View of the House

Front Facade

Terrace

All photos by Ignacio J. Padilla

Luis Barragan (1902-1988), is the most notable Architect from Mexico. He was trained as an Engineer but made his career in architecture. He is recognized for designing some of the most beautiful modern houses of its time and a recipient of the 1980 Pritzker Prize. The house is located in Constituyentes Avenue - in the Tacubaya neighborhood of Mexico City. Everyone can visit the house, but you have to call for an appointment. There is a mandatory "donation" equivalent to $10 dollars. However, it's worth it because you can see the house as he lived during his prime. You have a tour guide in (English or Spanish) that is very helpful and knowledgeable about the house and Barragan. However, I was a little upset to know that we couldn't take pictures inside the house or the outdoor garden, but the images of the house are still present in my mind. My visit was like seeing a Super Hero's house.

He design the facade to resemble the neighborhood houses, it would almost be unnoticed if it wasn't for it's scale. When you arrive on the street the facade gives you a sense of unfinished expression. Barragan is known as a master of light, and color and you can see his work in the house. The colors of the interior of the house and art pieces are used according to the light needed in each room. His house has no windows that allow you to view the street (with the exception of the guest-room) and artificial lighting is only used indirectly. Barragan came up with his theory of light and color: Yellow: multiplies light, White: doubles light intensity, Pink: absorbs and neutralizes light.

The Garden of his house was design to look as if the vegetation had been there forever. Given its limited dimensions, it is a purposely overground and the layering give it a deep and dense perspective making the garden appear bigger then it actually is. Perhaps, it's his interpretation of capturing wild nature in the urban jungle.

The Terrace is assembled by walls that rise above the roof level. The white tower is design to hold the water deposit of the house. The tall walls were design to cover the views of the neighborhood and any skyscraper of the city. However, on the East side of the house across the street new apartment building was constructed and you can view it from the terrace. The Mexican Government then made a law that no building can be constructed if it disturb the view of the terrace. The meaning of the terrace could have multiple origins. One of them could be that he brought this tradition from the Muslim world where roof terraces are traditional. When you visit the terrace the guide tells you that Barragan took the idea from Le Corbusier concept of the fifth facade, where he said that an architect must give back to the land by creating a garden on the terrace. Barragan being a religious man he took the concept further and made it to mean a gift to the heavens and God, a window for him to view the heavens. The terrace floor is paved with stone tiles with an earth tone.

Other Curiosities: You can find that some furniture chairs are design to be bigger/taller then the other furniture. This was because Barragan was a taller then the average mexican and his clients. He wanted to make a statement that he was in charge. Also along the house Barragan placed reflective spheres that appear that to be mirrors that allowed him to see his blind spots. He was fascinated by horses and throughout the house you can see sculptures paintings of horses. There is even a door and wooded window to resemble a horse stable. In the house there is a room called The White Room, this was actually the love room where he passed time with his girlfriend(s) guest. Being a religious man you can find crosses hanging on the walls or other Catholic sculptures and paintings. You cannot view the Bathrooms (except the one in Barragan's room), the Kitchen, or the maids room.