Mexican design in 2026 is a return to roots through Brutalism. Inspired by Luis Barragán, Mexico City architects blend ancient 'adobe' technique with modern concrete. Lobbies evoke Maya or Aztec temples, but with Wi-Fi 6. We explore how color work (Rosa Mexicano) and light turn a clay reception into high art.
Clay as Concrete
Adobe is a mix of clay, sand, and straw. In modern interpretation, we stabilize it with cement and polymers, getting a material stronger than brick but with a warm, 'living' texture. Reception desks cast from such 'super-adobe' have characteristic soft corners and irregularities. This is a tactile protest against the sterility of glass and steel.
Color and Shadow
Architecture of Emotion
Barragán taught: 'A wall must be colored.' We paint niches behind the reception in saturated pink, cobalt blue, or sunny yellow. Light from skylights reflects off colored surfaces, tinting the space itself. The lobby changes color throughout the day. In this play, the reception remains a neutral, grounding element of terracotta or ochre.