luis barragán's cuadra san cristóbal to open as cultural center in mexico

Historic luis barragán work Transformed into Cultural Campus

Fundación Fernando Romero has announced the transformation of Luis Barragán’s iconic La Cuadra San Cristóbal into a public cultural hub, creating a new space dedicated to the intersection of art and architecture. This historic estate, located in northwest Mexico City, will serve as a platform for creative exploration, providing both locals and international visitors with an opportunity to experience one of Barragán’s masterworks up close. See designboom’s 2019 visit to La Cuadra here!

Originally designed in the late 1960s by Luis Barragán, La Cuadra San Cristóbal is a 6.7-acre walled compound that includes a residence, equestrian facilities, and an expansive landscape. The Fundación Fernando Romero, founded by award-winning architect and philanthropist Fernando Romero, acquired the property in 2017 to ensure its preservation and to develop it into a public cultural resource. The foundation aims to safeguard the architectural legacy of the site while opening it up for creative engagement.

images © Yannick Wegner, courtesy Fundación Fernando Romero

Fernando Romero’s Vision for the Future

The conversion of Luis Barragán’s La Cuadra San Cristóbal into a cultural campus will be guided by a multi-phase plan that blends architectural preservation with contemporary design interventions. Among the new additions will be pavilions designed by internationally renowned architects, such as a timber structure by Kengo Kuma, creating a dynamic space that evolves alongside cultural programming. The campus will act as a platform for ongoing artistic and architectural exploration, with a focus on fostering creative innovation.

In its new role, La Cuadra will host a wide range of cultural activities, including exhibitions, artist residencies, and site-specific installations. The campus will feature a permanent exhibition dedicated to architect Luis Barragán’s life and work, curated by Jorge Covarrubias, an architect known for his expertise in restoring Barragán’s buildings. Additional facilities will include galleries, a podcast studio, a library, and event spaces, ensuring the site remains a vibrant cultural destination for years to come.

Fundación Fernando Romero will turn Luis Barragán’s La Cuadra San Cristóbal into a public hub

Upcoming Artist Experience at la cuadra san cristóbal

Ahead of its public opening in October 2025, La Cuadra will host an artist experience in February 2025 during the Zona Maco art fair. Renowned performance artist Marina Abramović will conduct an intervention within the estate’s courtyard and deliver a talk to an invited audience, which will include 150 university students. This event marks Abramović’s first project in Mexico since the 1990s and highlights the foundation’s commitment to fostering cross-disciplinary creative dialogues.

La Cuadra San Cristóbal’s official public opening in fall 2025 will coincide with the launch of a permanent exhibition on Luis Barragán. This exhibition will offer a detailed exploration of Barragán’s key works, including Casa Prieto López, Casa Gálvez, and Torres de Satélite, among others. Through this new cultural campus, the team at Fundación Fernando Romero aims to celebrate Barragán’s architectural legacy while positioning La Cuadra as a leading space for artistic and architectural experimentation.

the 6.7-acre estate will serve as a platform for art and architecture in Mexico City