The 22nd Annual New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Show combines mid-century Mexican architect Luis Barragán's (1902-1988) clean modernist lines and minimal surfaces with the showy splendor of one of the world's most cultivated plants: Orchids.

This blog explores not only Barragán's dynamic designs but also the diverse native flora from Mexico and how seamlessly the NYBG staff integrates Orchids into this setting.

I first laid eyes on Barragan’s work in a book that was resting on the table of clothing designer Shamask. My mother was being fitted for a dress she would wear to my sister‘s wedding in 1982. I was mesmerized by the photographs in the book.

Here is a link to my mention of Barragán in my blog post NATURE NURTURES which I sent out 14 years ago almost to the day :

https://www.groundswellbyjo.com/nature-1#http/wwwhomedsgncom/2011/03/29/spectacular-luis-barragan-fountain-home-remodel-by-tim-cambell

Volunteering during a recent forest cleanup at NYBG someone in the group mentioned the Orchid Show. I asked if there was an outdoor area as well, to which the person replied, no. I thought, ‘Oh well, then how good could it be?’ I went to visit - lo and behold the featured architect is Luis Barragán and this is the best Orchid show I’ve seen in my 13 years at the Garden!

The NYBG team who conceived the show seamlessly intermixed the abundance of beauty of orchids with the colorful, clean lines of Barragan’s architecture in a way I could not have imagined.

Barragán's Lovers Fountain interpreted at NYBG Palm Dome

Barragán's Lovers Fountain

Barragán built his PALM DOME fountain for Equestrians and their Horses to meander around and to drink from.

"A fountain brings us peace, joy, and restful sensuality and reaches the epitome of its very essence when, by its power to bewitch, it will stir dreams of distant worlds." —Luis Barragán, Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony Acceptance Speech, 1980

Eileen LeGuillou during a live chat in 2022 where she is quoting from the same acceptance speech he gave at the Pritzger Prize Ceremony:

Continuing the theme of my 5 prior blog posts on 🇲🇽 Mexico the Great:

Mexico's wide range of ecosystems, from the tropics to the high desert, are home to one of the largest hotspots of biodiversity in the world, including ~1200 species of orchids. about 40% of which are endemic - meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.

In the Southern part of Mexico City lava fields sprawl for miles and are filled with a unique flora of plants. Drawn by the stark beauty and fragility of the landscape, Barragán deleloped a subdivision that came to be know as El Pedregal (the stony place).

Casa Pedrigal - - formed around indigenous Lava Rock

Luis Barragán built Casa Gilardi around a large Jacaranda tree that was on the site. He left it in place and framed the house and inner couryard around it.

Barragán saw the garden and home as a place of refuge, tranquility and solitary. A place to reconnect with the Earth right in the midst of a bustling modern city. Barragán created soothing spaces through simplicity: flat geometric walls, spare plantings and a view of the sky.

Barragán built Casa Giardi around an existing Jacaranda tree

The featured photograph of this post with the title overlaying it shows Casa Giardi with Mexican fencepost cactus providing a vertical contrast to the horizontal house walls.

And behind this exterior:

Within the courtyard of Casa Giardi exist many enchanting view - as seen above and below:

For Barragán bright and carefully placed light could create a reverent, meditative and sometimes religious experience for the viewer.

Barragán’s play with light

PHOTOGENIC BY DESIGN

This is extrapolated from the Orchid Show signage about Barragán: equal parts entrepreneur and artist, photography was a critical tool to market and sell Barragán's unique aesthetic. He was keenly aware of creating spaces that were not only tranquil and beautiful, but that also photographed well. Today a large part of his legacy lives on in the photos that capture his vision.

Arches + Orchids - NYNG photo

WHAT BARRAGAN AND ORCHIDS HAVE IN COMMON

Orchids survival relies on Diversity, Adaptability, Vision thru color + mimicry and Scent.

Both Barragán and Orchids work to explore contrast in light, color, geometry - subtle and bold. They form dynamic spaces that evolve as light moves through them during the day. Brightening or fading their colors.

They both use their gifts of adaptation: their interaction and receptivity with the world. And both beg to be seen - borrowing vibrant colors and awesome styling from around them to create worlds within their world.