Customer Reviews

The Life and Work of Luis Barragán

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If readers are looking for a concise book on Luis Barragan, this book is NOT it. Rather, you are urged to look at Luis Barragan: The Complete Works which not only have architecture pictures but also detailed discussions by few academics & even Luis Barragan acceptance speech of his winning of the prestigious Pultizer prize. But if readers are just a pedestrian reader on architecture like me, you would appreciate this book for it contains beautiful photography (sometimes, pictures of the same thing taken from different angles) & GENERAL discussions upon Luis' refusal to conform to any particular architecture movements but rather following his vision of how an architecture should be depicted. He's not only an architect but an architect & artist combined, a sensible & faithful individual to his culture, core values. The readers are also given a quick overview of his exit from Guadalajara & his rising from ashes in Mexico, inspirations that he attained from his trip to the Meditarrenean & Africa (namely Morroco), his relationships & eventual downfall with artists that he worked with. Overall, a good effort but superficial for the academics.

The book is full of highly artistic and unique photos, taken at different seasons and through many years, showing an unknown side of Barragan, far away from other books or writings. It was written by authors that knew Barragan personally, fact that enhances its uniqueness and versatility.