Casa Barragan / Luis Barragan | Classics On Architecture Lab

Architects: Luis Barragan
Year: 1948
Photographs: Casa Luis Barragan, LrBln, Rene Burri, Steve Silverman
City: Cuerámaro
Country: Mexico

Casa Barragan, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Luis Barragan in Mexico City, embodies his hallmark use of color, light, and texture. Its modest facade blends with the neighborhood, while inside, skylights and windows track light and connect to a garden at the rear. Visitors enter through a dim hallway, greeted by a striking pink wall in the main room, minimally furnished and unchanged for decades. The double-height space is divided by low walls, with wooden girders framing a rooftop window. Barragan’s design balances privacy and openness, using high front windows and expansive rear views. Cultural and spiritual elements, including bold colors and Mexican antiques, reflect Barragan’s personal touch, while simple staircases lead to private spaces. Casa Barragan, now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage site, captures Barragan’s unique architectural vision, blending personal and cultural influences.

Renowned for his focus on color, light, shadow, form, and texture, it is no surprise that the former residence of Pritzker Prize winner Luis Barragan embodies all of these hallmarks. On a street in Mexico City, the house’s stark facade modestly blends with neighboring buildings, offering no indication of the character within.

Casa barragan / luis barragan | classics on architecture lab

Casa Barragan’s design is characterized by its prominent use of flat planes and carefully considered light, both natural and artificial. Skylights and windows are arranged to allow a visual journey of light as it changes throughout the day, with natural light and views of nature serving as the primary functions of the windows. The rear of the house opens into the garden, establishing both a visible and physical connection between the lower level and the backyard. Barragan, who often referred to himself as a landscape architect, emphasized the exterior and surroundings of his buildings as much as the interior spaces.

Upon entering, visitors walk down a dim hallway before encountering a vibrant pink wall—a first glimpse into Barragan’s distinctive style. The main room, designated solely for telephone use, remains minimally decorated with a chair and table that have not moved in 50 years. The double-height space is divided by low partition walls, creating distinct areas within the room. On the roof, a window framed by wooden girders draws attention and adds depth to the space.

Throughout Casa Barragan, the interplay of privacy and visibility is carefully crafted between the front and back sections of the house. High windows at the front allow light to enter while preserving privacy, while larger windows at the back open up to the garden. Because the rear of the house faces a private area, unlike the public street at the front, Barragan designed the windows to suit these differing levels of openness.

Barragan’s fascination with animals, particularly horses, is evident in the many popular cultural relics and symbolic objects placed throughout the house. Crosses are found in multiple rooms, and together with Barragan’s bold use of colors—such as pink, yellow, and lilac—they contribute to a mythical and spiritual quality in the architecture. Many furnishings were sourced from craft markets and antique shops, each carefully selected to reflect the cultural identity of Mexico. This cultural richness is further emphasized by Barragan’s minimalist approach, where the significance of each detail is heightened. Every element in the house serves a purpose, clearly planned and intentionally integrated by the architect.

The pure, minimalist stairways guide visitors through the different levels of the house, leading to private bedrooms and studio spaces. The consistent use of color and simple design extends across each floor, including the terraces and roof. Barragan finds a poetic expression in architecture, diverging from standard conventions to develop a distinct style that reflects his identity both as an individual and as an architect. He seamlessly blends his personal experiences, dreams, and memories into a tangible form, creating a universal experience that resonates across cultures and generations.

Luis Barragan received the Pritzker Prize in 1980. After his death in 1988, Casa Barragan was transformed into a museum for public enjoyment and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.