Modern Mexico: 20th Century Architecture

Catalog description

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 will address the mounting environmental challenges that defined the late 20th century and continue into the 21st. Throughout the course, a central thread will be the many and often competing ways that architecture has expressed Mexican identity. Non majors are welcome! Course Website: http://soa.cmu.edu