Luis Barragán's Cuadra San Cristobal to Reopen as Mexico City's Next Cultural Hub
With new pavilions designed by Kengo Kuma and a forthcoming intervention presented by legendary performance artist Marina Abramović.
Built during the 1960s, Luis Barragán‘s La Cuadra San Cristobal has become well-known in the architectural world for its distinct pink stucco walls and elongated sprawling planes. While the Mexican architect’s 6.7-acre estate was bought in 2017 by the philanthropic non-profit Fundación Fernando Romero, the official plans for the site’s future weren’t revealed until now.
This month the foundation announced that La Cudra San Cristobal will officially re-open in Fall 2025 as a publicly accessible cultural center and permanent exhibition site for Luis Barragán’s work. The historic conversion will be accompanied by the unveiling of new pavilions designed by contemporary Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and a new intervention from legendary performance artist Marina Abramović ahead of the Fall opening.
Complete with facilities including galleries, a podcast studio, a library and event spaces, the foundation hopes to preserve Barragán’s architectural work while making it a site for creative engagement and cultural innovation.
Also in Mexico City, Luis Barragán’s home, now a publicly-owned museum, is the only individual building in Latin America to be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. One of many architectural destinations in Mexico’s capital, the museum has been a primary site for the growing trend of design tourism.
Contrary to the Modernist practices in Western Europe, which relied on stark white and gray exteriors, Barragán’s expressive use of color and natural material palette draw from lively Mexico’s artistic traditions. The designer’s experimentations in architecture played an integral in developing a distinctly Mexican Modernist style in the 20th century and beyond.
Follow La Cuadra San Cristobal’s new Instagram account for updates on the official opening and future events.
