The Barragán Foundation Compiles 5 Decades of the Mexican Architect's Work

March 9 of last year marked Luis Barragán's 119th birthday and, in celebration of their namesake, the Barragan Foundation announced via their Instagram that they were launching the institution's newly revamped website. This signified two things--one, the absolute effort needed in order to compile every known Barragan work and the value this archive will have in aiding in the study of the architect's work and, two, the sweeping de-mystification of Barragan himself.

At first glance, the website seems scant and difficult to navigate, featuring only a few photos, a tidbit of information here and there, and paragraphs of legal jargon pertaining to the fair use of the material presented. However, except for a few complaints on social media platforms, the website's launch has gone relatively unnoticed and, since this quiet, fanfare-less launch, it has been fed by surprising and eloquent finds. 

Coincidentally, or, rather, in the midst of the ongoing pandemic where many libraries have opened their digital archives to viewers stuck at home, this launch coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Barragan Foundation, prompting a much-deserved celebration. At least this was feeling after compiling piece after piece of information, much of which was hidden away in long-forgotten publications and books, old tweets, and obscure anecdotes from past guided tours.