Three masterminds of Mexican architecture
Three masterminds of Mexican architecture
Every October 1 is celebrated as National Architect’s Day, and we take advantage of this special date to get to know the Mexicans who have left their mark through their great architectural legacy.
Luis Barragán Morfín 1902-1988
Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Barragán was one of the most influential Mexican architects of the 20th century.
In 1976 he received the National Architecture Award and in 1980 he became the first Latin American to win the Pritzker Prize for his “Casa Estudio Luis Barragan ‘ (CDMX), a modern architectural work that reflects his characteristic ’Barraganesque Style”, where vernacular elements of the place, visual components such as light and shadow, chromatic variations and traditional pieces of the time are integrated. Today, this building has been adapted as a museum and in 2014 UNESCO included it as a World Heritage Site.
Other of his most important works were:
- The restoration of the “Capilla del Convento de las Capuchinas Sacramentarias” (CDMX).
- Gilardi House (CDMX)
- Christ House (Guadalajara)
- Torres de Satélite (Edomex) in collaboration with Mathias Goeritz and Jesús Reyes Ferreira.
- Los Clubes (Mexico City)

Juan O'Gorman 1905-1982
Born in Coyoacán, he was a professor and founding member of the Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Arquitectura of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional and creator of the architectural engineering career.
In 1929 O’Gorman built “Casa O’Gorman 1929 ”, the first functionalist house in Mexico and Latin America, a post-revolutionary work where utilitarian function and aesthetic character are efficiently integrated, simplifying construction and engineering elements.
The main influences on which he based his style were the functionalist architecture from 1928 to 1936 (with ideas from the Bauhaus and Le Corbusier) and the organic or regionalist architecture from 1945 to 1956 (Frank Lloyd Wright and Antonio Gaudí) where architecture has a connection between nature and human beings.
At the age of 30, he gradually retired from architecture, giving way to his stage as a muralist and easel painter, making him one of the most complete Mexican artists of the twentieth century. In 1971 he became a member of the Mexican Academy of Arts and in 1972 he received Mexico’s National Fine Arts Award.
His main works are:
- New Building of the Bank of Mexico (CDMX).
- Casa Estudio Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museum (CDMX).
- National Museum of History (CDMX)
- Central Library of the UNAM (CDMX)
- Anahuacalli Museum (CDMX)

Mario Pani Darqui 1911-1993
European-trained architect born in Mexico City, he was the pioneer of modern urbanism in our country.
In 1947 he built “CUPA – Centro Urbano Presidente Alemán (CDMX)” the first housing complex in Mexico and Latin America. A multifamily inspired by the functionalist architecture of Le Corbusier, which left behind the neighborhoods and sought to integrate the collective spaces and the verticality of a house to create a superblock.
Founder of the College of Architects in Mexico and of the magazine “Arquitectura México”, Mario Pani was an architect concerned about the accelerated growth of the population and social problems, which is why he was the precursor of collective housing and therefore emblematic of the modern landscape of Mexico City.
In 1984 he received the Grand Prize of the National Academy of Architecture and in 1986 the National Prize for the Arts.
His works include:
- Nonoalco Tlatelolco Urban Complex (CDMX).
- UNAM Rectory Tower (CDMX)
- Teachers' Normal School (CDMX)
- National Conservatory of Music (CDMX)
- Insignia Tower (CDMX)
