When I was introduced to the work of Mexican architect Luis Barragán, I couldn’t understand why anyone would think of modern architecture as a cold discipline.
Looking back on my architecture training, one of my fondest memories was artist Lauretta Vinciarelli's graphic arts class, where she asked a roomful of Columbia undergraduates to render Barragán's captivating work on paper. Fifty pink Prismacolor pencils later, I was on my way to becoming an architect.
Above: Barragán developed his own take on modernism, with the use of vivid colors and textural contrast as shown here in the Caudra San Christobál stables designed in 1966. Photograph by Steve Silverman on Flickr.
Above: At the Caudra San Christobál stables, there is a sequence of horse pools. Photograph by Steve Silverman on Flickr.
Above: Barragán is regarded as one of the most important architects of the 20th century; his buildings are especially memorable for their mastery of space and light. Photograph via Zero 1 Magazine.
Above: Barragán was also a landscape architect; his sculptural forms and bright colors accentuate the natural surroundings.
Above: Water features are a common theme in the architect's work. Photograph from the Luis Barragán foundation.
For more inspiration, have a look at our Architect Visits, including 10 Houses Made from Shipping Containers and On the Road: Hank Bought a Bus.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on March 23, 2012 as part of our Color Coded issue.