Casa Estudio Luis Barragán — Attraction in Mexico City

Just don't go. I am a culture vulture and was won over by the great reviews on google. The thing that cemented my disappointment is the customer service. First of all it is not possible to purchase 2 adults and 1 senior online in the same purchase which, in this day and age, is unacceptable. Fortunately I used paypal so as not to be stung by two transaction fees from my bank. Worse still, when we arrived the ticket checker asked me, in a very accusatory manner, if one of my party was a student. Obviously he had seen that one of the tickets I was claiming was at the concession rate of 200 pesos but he couldn't see why, even though online I had specified that the concession was for a senior. He made me feel like I had done something suspicious which set things off on a bad note. On top of this nobody welcomed us in a friendly manner to the attraction. Everybody was downbeat, something I didn't expect from what, in Mexico city, is a very expensive attraction. I don't think I saw one smile once from any of the attendants.

Now for the guide. He spoke in a very low voice which is not really what you want when you are doing a guided tour. Perhaps, as it was his first tour of the day he was saving his voice for later. He never smiled. My tour was in Spanish and I do speak Spanish. It could be true that I am not accustomed to the Mexico City accent but I had to cup my ears to hear him. The commentary is pretty obvious anyway, example, 'opening the window allows more light in'. He was not dynamic.

Perhaps you might be able to enjoy the house a bit more if you could take pictures but, oh no, you have to pay 500 pesos ($26) for the privilege. The entrance fee alone is expensive enough and to not be allowed to take pictures, just adds insult to injury.

The house itself is boring and feels ghostly. It does not hold anything remarkable. There are a lot of religious references. The morbidness of the surroundings and constant feeling of 'watch where you step, don't touch anything' made me feel claustrophobic and want to leave.

Neither is their any reference to his body of work. It is just a complete waste of time. I wish I had used that morning to go to a real place of cultural...

The Luis Baragan House Museum is a true embodiment of Mexican modernism. Built in 1948 in the heart of Mexico City, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. At a glance, you can see that this place was created by people who think about space. The interiors here are so thoughtfully designed that they literally blend in with the outside world, letting in light and harmonizing with the greenery around the house. One of the most impressive qualities of the house is the masterful use of light and color. Baragan skillfully manipulated natural light to emphasize the beauty of the interior spaces, creating a play of shadows and reflections that changes throughout the day. Vibrant shades of pink, yellow and blue in various rooms underscore his belief in the emotional power of color. Despite the minimalist design, the house radiates warmth and coziness. Carefully selected furniture, textiles and decorative elements add a sense of comfort and style. Each room is a harmonious blend of simplicity and sophistication, reflecting Baragan's philosophy that less is more. Luis Baragan's work has had a tremendous influence on many architects and designers around the world. His emphasis on tranquility, privacy and the human experience in architecture is evident in his contemporary designs. Our visit to his home gave us a glimpse into the mind of a genius whose ideas continue to shape modern architecture. Our visit to the Louis Baragan House Museum proved to be truly transformative. It reminded us how important it is to create spaces that harmonize with their surroundings, and what a powerful effect thoughtful design can have on our lives. This house is not just a museum; it is a living, breathing example of architectural excellence. P.S. wanna got some photo shots? Prepare extra 500pesos for...

A House of Fascinating Design, Curated by Snobbery

The architecture speaks volumes; the staff speaks volumes more—though not in the way one might hope.

The space itself delivers. What one doesn’t expect is to be treated as an inconvenience rather than a guest. When we wrote ahead requesting a simple scheduling accommodation—might two tickets be adjusted so we could tour together?—we were met with silence. Upon arrival, we learned this silence was, apparently, pedogogical. We should have known from the website that such requests aren’t entertained. How terribly dull of us not to intuit policy from absence.

The tour itself was a curious affair. We were split into groups by gender and asked to stand in particular orders accordingly. The commentary veered into observations about femininity, offhand remarks about the Pope, and various tangents unrelated to the actual space we’d come to see. The overall atmosphere was less “welcoming exploration” and more “compulsory lecture delivered to the insufficiently reverent.”

Here’s the thing: this house is genuinely interesting. It deserves visitors. But somewhere along the way, some of its custodians seem to have mistaken architectural significance for permission to treat guests as though they should feel privileged merely to have been admitted. There are hundreds of remarkable spaces in this world that manage to be both important and gracious.

Worth seeing. Just brace yourself for the chill—and I don’t mean the modernist...