Ricardo Legorreta

(b. Mexico City, Mexico 1931)

Ricardo Legorreta was born in Mexico City in 1931. He graduated in 1953 from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico with a degree in architecture. While in school Legorreta worked as a draftsman. After graduating. Legorreta worked for Jose Villagran Garcia in Mexico City, becoming a partner in 1955. In 1960 Legorreta established his own practice and in 1964 he became the principal of Legorreta Arquitectos, Mexico City. Since 1977 he has been president of Legorreta Arquitectos Dienos, furniture and accessory design.

The international style of architecture thrived in post war Mexico. Ignoring the traditional native architecture based on thick wall systems, the buildings of this era incorporated the the column aesthetic. Legorreta brought back the "wall culture" of Mexico. Emphasizing the supremacy of solids over voids, the use of color to enclose wall space, and the South American preference for privacy, Legorreta designed regional architecture that avoided the set design techniques prevalent in many parts of Mexico and Southern California.

Legorreta has designed a diverse group of buildings. Although different in scale they all achieve a supreme blending of space, light and color. Legorreta's architecture has been consistently good, and it has evolved because he has never regarded architecture from the perspective of a businessman. Although he achieves what he does through extremely hard work, he has always remained a dedicated artist.

References
Muriel Emmanuel. Contemporary Architects. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. ISBN 0-312-16635-4. NA 680-C625. p461-462.

Winner of the AIA Gold Medal, 2000.

Legorreta Arquitectos
Palacio de Versalles 285 'A'
11020 Mexico
vox 251-96-98
fax 596-61-62
email: legorret@lmasl.com.mx

Legorreta Arquitectos
3440 Motor Avenue
Floor 2
Los Angeles, California 90034
USA
vox (310) 391-9976
fax (310) 391-0976

"Pueblo Legoretta", by Michael J. Crosbie, ArchitectureWeek No. 122, 2002.1106, pD1.1.

Modernity and the Architecture of Mexico. Edward R. Burian (Editor), Ricardo Legorreta (Editor). Univ of Texas Press (June 1997). ISBN 029270853X. — Available at Amazon.com

Ricardo Legorreta, Architects. John V. Mutlow (Editor), Lourdes Legorreta (Photographer), Ricardo Legorreta. Rizzoli (June 1997). ISBN 0847820238. — Available at Amazon.com

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Visual Arts Center — A recent project by Legorreta, at The College of Santa Fe

Ricardo Legorreta at Archiplanet — Find, add, and edit info at the all-buildings collaboration

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