Abstract neo-plasticity and its architectural manifestation in the Luis Barragan house/ studio of 1947
The reading this week is taken from The Mathematical Intellegencer, focusing on the works of Luis Barragan. In particular the reading looked deeply at his design for his own house, and how it went on to inform his future designs.
A notable factor in the reading which has struck me as most interesting was Barragan's approach to colour and geometry. He seemingly had a fondness of basic shapes informing his ideas, in particular the the use of the square. His choice in colours was somewhat bright and bold, filling whole walls with specifically chosen ones.
I think that what intrigued me the most about this was how it reminded me of infancy. As children we often encouraged to play with shapes, trying fit a number of 3D objects into their corresponding holes for example. We are also encouraged to draw these basic shapes and grasp what they are, as well as play with the primary colours. There are definite similarities between these encouraged behaviours and the design approach of the Barragan's house.
What seems even more interesting is that the house feels almost like an experiment for Barragan. He was trying something new and bold, trying to reinvent the architecture of the area whilst remaining faithful to its vernacular history. He played, as a child would, with shapes and colour, and (in my opinion) succeeded in creating something beautifully simple and strikingly elegant.
Although Barragan may not necessarily have been thinking of the routes we hold in our childhood when he was designing, I feel that such an approach may not be a bad one, it is one that I desire to try myself. Barragan's actual approach of taking culture and existing ideas, abstracting it and reinforcing it with vernacular ideas is brilliant. It is a reworking of ideas which creates a contextually appropriate, yet replicable concept. I find myself drawn to the geometry and colour of his house and am pleased that this project brought on his resulting style.
A notable factor in the reading which has struck me as most interesting was Barragan's approach to colour and geometry. He seemingly had a fondness of basic shapes informing his ideas, in particular the the use of the square. His choice in colours was somewhat bright and bold, filling whole walls with specifically chosen ones.
I think that what intrigued me the most about this was how it reminded me of infancy. As children we often encouraged to play with shapes, trying fit a number of 3D objects into their corresponding holes for example. We are also encouraged to draw these basic shapes and grasp what they are, as well as play with the primary colours. There are definite similarities between these encouraged behaviours and the design approach of the Barragan's house.
What seems even more interesting is that the house feels almost like an experiment for Barragan. He was trying something new and bold, trying to reinvent the architecture of the area whilst remaining faithful to its vernacular history. He played, as a child would, with shapes and colour, and (in my opinion) succeeded in creating something beautifully simple and strikingly elegant.
Although Barragan may not necessarily have been thinking of the routes we hold in our childhood when he was designing, I feel that such an approach may not be a bad one, it is one that I desire to try myself. Barragan's actual approach of taking culture and existing ideas, abstracting it and reinforcing it with vernacular ideas is brilliant. It is a reworking of ideas which creates a contextually appropriate, yet replicable concept. I find myself drawn to the geometry and colour of his house and am pleased that this project brought on his resulting style.
Park, J et al. (2009). Abstract neo-plasticity and its architectural manifestation in the Luis Barragan house/ studio of 1947. Springer.