Home, serene home: casa Luis Barragan, Mexico City, 1947 Luis Barragan - end quote - Brief Article - Biography

Residential Architect, June, 2003 by Meghan Drueding

Luis Barragan believed that a house should serve as a refuge from the outside world, and nowhere is that view expressed more eloquently than in the house he designed for himself in Mexico City. Built in 1947, as Barragan was emerging from his International Style period, the house weaves together Modern minimalism, local architectural influences, and memories of the rural ranch where the self-taught architect grew up.

Its simple facade conceals a private world of light, shadow, and color, intended to evoke an emotional response and foster a feeling of serenity. Barragan balanced the bright hues for which he is known with whitewashed walls and dark wood accents. Functional sculptures such as floating staircases and partial room dividers create a sense of mystery and intrigue. And meticulously planned views out to the garden and sky connect the house with its natural environment.

Barragan died in 1988, but his vision of home as a place for introspection and meditation lives on in the work of admirers like Ricardo Legorreta, Steven Holl, and Tadao Ando. His house has been preserved as a museum; to make an appointment for a tour, call 011.52.55.55.15.4908.