Restoring Midcentury Form
Luis Barragán was one of Mexico’s most prestigious architects, revolutionizing architecture and landscape design in the 1940s with his expressive colors and solid forms.
It’s not often a Barragán house comes on the market, but when it does collectors from around the world gather in attempt to secure their one piece of mid-century architecture. Art collector and businessman César Cervantes eventually purchased the property with the aim to restore it back to its original design.
Designed in 1951, the home – which is located on lava fields – is one of the most important pieces of Mexican architecture. The pressure to restore this project to its original purity may have been a challenge too big for some. Cervantes however, was willing to take on the challenge with the help of his friend, Jorge Covarrubias, co-founder of local architectural practice Parque Humano.
Over time, the design team began removing layers of alterations in search for the original mid-century form and to reinstate the homely feel.
‘This house is not a museum. I wanted it to be a real house. I don’t even believe in museums; how am I supposed to live inside one?’ Cervantes tells Wallpaper. ‘People think I don’t live here. They ask me why I have bottles of alcohol. They think they are props, but they’re not.’
Following an in-depth research process and consultations with academics who specialize in Barragán’s architecture, a 20-month restoration took place. The result, a home that celebrates the famous architect and emphasizes his love for form, texture, light, shadow and color.
You can read more about the restoration project here.
Click here to see more images and impressive work by Parque Humano.
Image source: Parque Humano.