This book introduces a new generation of architects working in Mexico and their innovative housing designs.
In the period following World War II, eminent Mexican architects such as Juan O’Gorman and Luis Barragán pioneered the adaptation of an international narrative in housing design to their own cultural environment. Seven decades on, Mexican architecture, and housing design in particular, is experiencing a renaissance and gaining unparalleled international attention owing to the ideas and ambitions of a new generation of architects. Mexico’s architects are making a strong contribution to a global discourse grounded in local economic and cultural issues, as well as environmental concerns.
Nueva Vivienda features twenty-two exceptional housing projects in Mexico from the last ten years through images, floor plans, and sections, with accompanying scholarly essays offering historical and theoretical background. Featuring a series of conversations among architects, developers, and researchers, the book illuminates the local context for these projects, highlighting their designers’ new ideas and their contribution to reimagining housing typologies. Moreover, it traces the impact of these ideas beyond Mexico.
Pre-order the book here on Amazon.
Jesús Vassalo and Sebastián López Cardozo will make a brief presentation of the book, followed by a light reception.
Engaging Pluralism
When ideologies and cultures collide, new ways of working with and living in the world emerge. As a form of political philosophy, pluralism draws upon this dynamic condition, promoting the coexistence of multiple approaches and worldviews. Yet in the context of compounding crises and unchecked inequality, this is far from a neutral position: it becomes a commitment to struggle and discourse. Drawing from a broad-ranging group of speakers, Rice Architecture’s annual lecture series, Engaging Pluralism, explores how architects and designers can work with friction, contradiction, and multiplicity to effect broader social, cultural, and environmental change. It is an all-school platform for reflecting on the possibilities and challenges of designing for a pluralistic society.
All lectures are free and open to the public and, unless noted otherwise, will be held in person in Farish Gallery, MD Anderson Hall, with a livestream component. In the event that COVID-19 circumstances prohibit in-person lectures, the series will be held virtually via Zoom. Each lecture has been submitted for AIA CES approval.
This lecture series is made possible through the generous support of the Betty R. and George F. Pierce Jr., FAIA, Fund; the William B. Coleman Jr. Colloquium Fund for Architecture; the Wm. W. Caudill Lecture Series Fund; and Rice Design Alliance (RDA), the public programs and outreach arm of Rice Architecture, which includes the generous support of its members and RDA Underwriters: Harvey | Harvey-Cleary; Tellepsen Family; Big State Electric; Brochsteins; CED Houston; MAREK; Turner Construction; and Walter P. Moore. Additional support is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts.