Day 3
Eggs, Stone and Technology
9:00 AM – Lago Algo
Lago Algo, a cultural center run by Galería OMR, was the first stop of a day filled with architectural marvels. The space, designed by the talented Mauricio Rocha of Taller, is a perfect example of contemporary architecture, designed to foster creativity. I also had the pleasure of running into Renata Petersen, again, an artist whom we met a few nights ago! (Check out my day 1 blog here) The unique aviation-inspired architecture, paired with a stunning view of the surrounding lake, made it a memorable stop, to say the least.
Brunch was served in the terraced cafe, in view of the water, where I had Eggs Benedict on yellow heirloom tomatoes, a fresh fruit plate, and (of course) coffee. The airy atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop to reflect on my experiences and plan my next trip to Mexico. Before brunch, in the Gift shop, I picked up a guide to architecture in Guadalajara, now a destination on my wishlist. Typical me, I hadn’t even finished this trip, and I was already thinking about the next.
12:30 PM – Casa Pedregal
After brunch, we headed to Casa Pedregal, designed by architect Luis Barragán, as a sanctuary of vibrant color and bedrock. Stone walls, added texture, and a grounded feel to both the interior and exterior living spaces, and the mastery of light and color in this house is unmatched. As someone who studied Barragán’s work in college, his use of color, often discouraged in traditional architecture education, gave me permission to embrace bold choices in my own work.
The home features some unconventional elements that would never fly in the U.S. due to safety codes, like the lava field path as an access point in the backyard and the stair pit with no railing in the main entry hall. But it’s choices like these daring, boundary-pushing ones that make Barragán’s work so revolutionary and impactful.
Next door to Casa Pedregal, we stopped by a restaurant by the name of Tetetlen that doubles or should I say quadduples as a cafe, gift shop, record listening and reading spaces, and if that wasn’t enough, a yoga studio. This space was originally the stables of Barragan’s client, who commissioned Casa Pedregal next door. The glass floor offered an incredible view of the natural stone foundation beneath. The sunroof and second floor, which wrapped the perimeter of the build, allowed you to walk through the vines thriving in the greenhouse-like space. It was the perfect fusion of nature, art, and architecture.
3:30 PM – Kurimanzutto Gallery
After Barragán, we visited yet another architectural feat, Kurimanzutto Gallery. Built in 1949, originally a lumberyard, then an industrial bakery. The renovation was led by Alberto Kalach, preserving the original ceiling and trusses. The concrete contrasts with the wood structure, allowing the natural light to create an engaging relationship between the space and the artworks displayed. I couldn’t imagine being able to display my art here. It would be such a special place to do so.
4:30 PM – Material Art Fair
After all of the archi-hullabaloo, next up on the docket was Material Art Fair, an exhilarating exhibition experience. The highlights, in my opinion, were the multilayered Suprainfinit Gallery from Bucharest and Llano Gallery, where traditional techniques are combined with science and technology. The fair was a vibrant melting pot of artistic visions, providing insight into the cutting-edge art scene not just in Mexico, but globally. 10/10 would recommend and would like to attend again in the future (not only because there was an ENTIRE floor dedicated to functional art as furniture…but maybe just a little).
