Author: Valentina Martín Millán
Architect graduated from the Javeriana University of Cali, Colombia. She is passionate about architecture, interior design, illustration and nature. Seeking to build a more sensitive world for everyone.
NAME OF BUILD: Luis Barragan Studio House.
ARCHITECT: Luis Barragán Morfi.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Archdaily and Luis Barragán Archive.
LOCATION: Mexico City, Mexico.
YEAR: 1948
M2: 360 m2
It is customary for architects to think of Luis Barragán when we refer to Mexican Architecture. This great architect dedicated himself to creating works with elements that combined modernity with the traditional aspects of Mexico, creating unparalleled spaces, full of sensations for the viewer.
Among all his works, there is one that stands out completely. This work was not only awarded as cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2004, but it was also where Luis Barragán lived his last 40 years. It is known as the Studio House, which is an expression in the evolution of the modern movement. This house manages to unite, in an innovative synthesis, elements rooted in tradition and local culture, in addition to incorporating various philosophical and artistic influences from all times.
The Luis Barragan Casa Estudio is located in Tacubaya, an old and popular neighborhood in Mexico City, where we can find various traditional houses. This neighborhood is made up of workshops, construction materials distributors and small stores. It is a very quiet neighborhood, in which this house goes unnoticed. Its front façade does not say much about its interior, which is why for people who visit it, it may seem strange and surprising that behind this gray wall is this work of art.
It is made up of two lots, in the first we can find Luis Barragán's entire home, while in the second we find his work studio. Each one has its own entrance from the street. However, inside they are connected.
Upon entering the home, the senses are flooded with the sensations that the space evokes. Here we can find a small access goal, which works as a sensory filter. It is a space in which the color yellow abounds, representing the traditional nature of Mexico. This space seeks to be a precursor to what happens in the house, being at the same time a waiting place. Here the viewers' senses are put in a state of desire to know what comes next. All this thanks to the palette of materials used, which even if they are few, the use of each material is abundant.
After passing this space, we arrive at the hall of the house. Here we find a space where natural light abounds, thanks to the architect placing a light reflection system made from a golden surface that represents the abstract image of God (according to Mathias Goeritz, the Mexican painter and sculptor).
This wooden altarpiece is located in accordance with the position of the sun, allowing this space in the house to be completely illuminated by natural light. Here we can see that, even if the yellow color persists, it contrasts with the pink and white color of the adjacent walls, generating a chromatic experience. In addition, here we can find stairs that lead to the second level and accesses that lead to the living area and the dining room.
The living area begins with a small folding wall, which, after passing through it, you find an immense window that overlooks the garden of the house. Through this façade, you can feel how nature accompanies you in the experience of the house to its interior, making the viewer believe that they are seeing an immense moving painting.
Faced with this, we can also find the elements that make up this space, which are chairs, armchairs, and solid wooden furniture. As we see, the materials that make it up are basically solid wood, vegetable fibers and wool.
If we continue to the left, we can find the dining area, which also has a window that overlooks the patio. However, the window is elevated, creating a different perspective of the exterior space, but at the same time framing nature and its movement. This is classified as the most private space of the house, here the viewer is sheltered between the walls and the small and high perspective of the surrounding landscape.
Moving on to the library, which is a place contained within the living area, it is a space that in turn is divided by small planes at medium height. This space has a large window, however, due to its height, the space is completely excluded from what is happening on the street and only allows light to enter. This is a space that seeks to generate complete calm to allow whoever lives there to carry out the task to which this area is attached. On the desk in this space, Luis Barragán placed his Pritzker Prize, made up of the gold medal and the statuette that the winners previously received.
On the other hand, we have the workshop, which stands out for having a sloping yellow roof and a large window to the east. This window allows light to pass into the interior, creating a play on the colorimetry of the space, as it reflects the yellow of the ceiling on the white walls of the space. Here we can see that this window is also located in such a way that the person who inhabits the space has no direct relationship with the street, but only with the landscape of his neighbors' rooftops, the sky and the light.
Leaving the workshop, we can find the patio, where the pot patio is first located. This area is actually a modification of the original project, which sought to separate the patio from the workshop with the garden. Here we can highlight two emblematic objects of Luis Barragán's landscape architecture, the living vegetation, framed by the vines that descend through the white walls, and the dark water, which is contained, but in movement. As for the garden that continues into this space, we can see that it contrasts with the window that faces the living area, giving a monumental value to this space.
Lastly, we have the terrace, which is made up of walls raised above the roof level, which make up some service spaces of the house. In addition to this, we can see that the architect designed a completely abstract spatial composition, here we can see how his house was a laboratory of ideas. In this area, the spatial construction of all the previously mentioned rooms is developed. As for the white perimeter walls, these were in turn elevated to generate a space for introspection, framing the sky with attached nature.
It is clear that the influence that Luis Barragán had on world architecture continues to grow continuously. His house, which has been faithfully preserved in its original state, is one of the most popular destinations for art and architecture lovers from around the world who visit Mexico City.
This small museum, which includes both the home and workplace of Luis Barragán, is a place that all architects should be able to see and experience in person. It is such a personal space that it ends up enveloping us in itself, creating an introspective journey for each visitor.