Plantel Matilde / Fundación Javier Marín. Location: Yucatan. Image © Edmund Sumner
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https://www.archdaily.com/1031288/tradition-innovation-and-experimentation-contemporary-mexican-house-through-the-lens-of-edmund-sumner
Blending vernacular techniques with contemporary experimentation, Mexico’s architectural landscape is shaped by a continuous dialogue between tradition, materiality, and modernity. As the fifth most biodiverse country in the world, Mexican architecture seeks to respond to its vast range of natural environments, climates, and cultural traditions, all within a territory marked by striking contrasts. Reflecting a visible duality, it can embody both exclusivity and act as a catalyst for social transformation.
Colonial courtyards, hacienda terraces, indigenous structures, and modern ideals inspired by figures such as Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Luis Barragán have historically influenced the evolution of Mexican housing. Today, as highlighted in Jonathan Bell’s book Casa Mexicana, contemporary Mexican architecture is moving beyond the vibrant color palettes of the past toward a more nuanced, material-based expression. With raw, tactile materials and brutalist forms, new projects are creating links between historical references and present-day innovation. From chukum stucco to hand-crafted concrete, locally sourced materials shape the visual and emotional language of spaces, grounded in sustainability and craftsmanship.
