Esoteric Survey

Luis Barragan built some great walls in Mexico. 
Luis Barragan 
Barragan paid for his own walls at Casa Luis Barragan.
Juan O'Gorman
Mathais Goeritz
Mathais Goeritz and Ricardo Legorreta
The Mexican government, through a program led by Diego Rivera, paid American-born artist Isamu Noguchi to build this wall in Mexico City. The mural deals with greedy capitalists and fascism. It was done in the early 1930's and is unfortunately relevant again.

I'm trying to catch up on photos from my trip to Mexico City in November. Here's Cuadra San Cristobal (1966) by Luis Barragan














 The stables



View from the stable house
I didn't see any horses on my visit, so here's a 1976 photo by Rene Burri

Casa Gilardi (1976) is the last residential project by Luis Barragan. It was designed for Pancho Gilardi and Martin Luque, who owned an advertising agency. It was to be used as a studio space or bachelor pad. Pancho Gilardi passed away and Martin Luque and his family now call it home. The house retains the Gilardi name in honor of Pancho. Martin's son, also named Martin, gave me a tour of the house he grew up in. 


The indoor pool, which includes a dining area. Although the house, designed for bachelors, was ultimately the home to a family. Martin assured me they still had some great parties at the house.  Barragan was a private man and designed his spaces with privacy in mind. The bottom floor of the three story house is the public realm. That's where the pool and outdoor area are. The spaces get progressively more private as you ascend. The second floor has the living room and study. The bedrooms are on the third floor. The jacaranda tree is original to the site and the house wa…

Casa Luis Barragán is the former house and studio of architect Luis Barragán in Mexico City. It was completed in 1948 and Barragán lived there until he died in 1988. This is the front hall to the house. A Mathias Goeritz painting hangs at the top of the stairs.

Soledad  Barragán lived alone

The garden
The stairs lead to a private office. That's another Mathias Goeritz painting.

Vision In Motion by  László Moholy-Nagy

One of two reproduction Josef Albers paintings owned by Barragán. Albers and Barragán met on a number occasions and had mutal admiration for each other's work. Apparently, Albers even knew of the reproductions. The Henry Moore sculpture (limited edition) is a Pritzker Prize, which was awarded to Barragán in 1980. There's the other one.

Barragán designed most of the furnishings, including this Butaque chair, which was a collaboration with Clara Porset.


Upstairs

Another Goeritz in Barragán's bedroom. <