First published: 18/11/14.

Frederik Dawson 2.5

Luis Barragán House And Studio

Luis Barragán House and Studio (Inscribed)

Luis Barragán House and Studio by Frederik Dawson

One of the most memorable thing of my visit to Luis Barragan House is how to get there, from Tacubaya station, I changed the metro and arrived Constituyentes Station, I followed other passenger to the metro exit, but when I got out the station I knew immediately that I used the wrong one, and need to find the way to cross the road. At first I walked along the highway and found small stairs to the pedestrian tunnel, since I was not sure I decided to ask two police officers who were smoking the way to Casa Luis Barragan. The policemen told me to follow the arrow sign nearby which totally opposite the direction, but well I had to trust officers and the sign. That sign took me to the small way along the highway and then I turned right until I reached a large junction. This time I gave up to ask direction anymore and decide to open my mobile phone for map. I crossed the junction and found small alley and then climbed the stairs to another small dirty road that full with mechanical shops. Then I reached another junction and turned right and that I found a quite clean road and Casa Luis Barragan is on the left!

At that time I was very tired and soaked with sweat. From 5 minutes I planned to reach the house turned out to be 35 minutes. Thanks god that I was still on time for the tour, and I have to say the frustration of direction really ruined my visit. My idea on the house is hard to say, it was a nice furnished house that look like in the home magazine, but I could not find any impact on modern architecture like I saw in Rietveld Schroder House or Villa Savoye or even Berlin Modernism. One of the thing I surprised is that the house is cozy than my original thought. Another interesting maybe the colour, but if you travelled in Mexico for more than a week, any colour on house could be possible which in my opinion a charm of Mexican arts. After I finished the tour I walked toward the highway and turn right to small alley and within less than 2 minutes I was at the entrance of Constituyentes Station! Inside the station I found out the reason why I used the wrong entrance. If you come from Tocubaya direction when exit you need to use tunnel under (or above?) the rail track to another side of metro station for the train from Auditario direction and the exit sign to Casa Luis Barragan will be there.

Since I combined Casa Luis Barragan and UNAM in the same day tour, I was quite overwhelmed by Mexican modernist works, but in the different feelings, I was disappointed from Casa Luis Barragan, but got a nicer time from UNAM. Anyway I was happy that I visited the house, the visit gave me much knowledge on Mexican arts and the first time I learned about modern architecture in Latin America which has unique idea apart from main school in Europe and North America. Also it would be a shame for World Heritage Site enthusiast for not collects all 5 sites in this World Heritage Hot Spot city.

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