Luis Barragán House and Studio, built in 1948 in Mexico City, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004. It is an excellent representation of post World War II modern design and architecture by famed architect Luis Ramiro Barragán Morfín. The location of his house and studio is in the Daniel Garza sector of Mexico. It served as his home until his death in 1988.

The designs of Barragán are known for use of bright traditional Mexican colors and right angles along with the incorporation of dramatic light, and raw material such as stone and wood. He believed that a house should not be “a machine for living” but rather a place that expresses serenity. His creations possess a sort of lyrical atmosphere and architects and art connoisseurs alike will enjoy the careful design of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

About Luis Barragán

Barragán was born in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Mexico in 1902. He studied civil engineering and architecture. Upon graduating in 1925 he traveled throughout Europe for two years. He fell in love with the gardens in the cities he visited and was inspired by the villas in Italy and the Mediterranean coast. In 1936 he moved to Mexico City and took up permanent residence. Throughout his career he owned and worked for notable architecture firms. His work includes individual residential projects as well as large developments. In 1975 the Museum of Modern Art in New York City honored him with a retrospective. In 1980, he became the second winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Pro Tip when visiting

Photography is not allowed, even with a cell phone. However, if you are willing to sign a non-commercial use agreement and pay 500.00 pesos (price at time of writing) you can use your camera. Since I go to these place so I can shoot, that’s what I did. Obviously, it was well worth it. I guess other people thought it was too expensive though so no one else on the tour had the photo pass. That meant I didn’t have to vie for space to get the shot I wanted.