Precedent Study: Luis Barragan

After analyzing my clients, the site and the brief, I thought it was due time to find some inspirations in the form of other buildings. I knew that I would have to find some way of providing the opportunity there for the site to be partially divided, due to the clients needs. The way I came up of doing this was to use the building to provide a partial division on the site. I also needed several outdoor spaces, for circulation, exhibition and entertainment.

I decided to look at the work of Luis Barragan, the Mexican architect, in particular his usage of courtyards as circulation and usable external spaces. Many of his works are defined by wall extensions which protrude further than the edge of the building, defining areas of the site into external areas.

His works are ambitious and colourful, however have been criticised in the past for not being entirely functional. There is no doubting their beauty, I also thought that he has a connection to all of my clients in that his works are inherently inspired by his upbringing in Mexico, much like Rodrigo. Like Pablo he is fascinated with colours and tricks of the eye, and like Antony he is intrigued with planes and their connections with open spaces.



Images taken from: helenjamesdesign.blogspot.com