Modern Mexico: 20th Century Architecture

This course focuses on the architectural and urban history of Mexico City in the 20th century. We begin with 19th century landscapes — rural and urban — that set the stage for the 1910 Mexican Revolution, then move through the post-revolutionary period, when arts and architecture played a vital role in shaping a new national identity. As we move through the century, we examine both avant-garde design movements and the everyday vernacular built environment. Case studies range from elite projects — such as upper-class suburbs designed by leading architects — to working-class environments, including informal settlements created by anonymous "squatters." Finally, we address the mounting environmental challenges that defined the late 20th century and continue into the 21st. Throughout the course, a central thread is the many and often competing ways that architecture has expressed Mexican identity. 

Non-majors are welcome!