Mexico, as told through Edmund Sumner’s Lens

Mexican architecture reflects the diversity of the country's landscapes, climates, and cultural traditions, weaving together vernacular building techniques and contemporary experimentation. This ongoing dialogue—between tradition and craftsmanship on the one hand, and material and chromatic exploration on the other—takes shape in the Mexican residences photographed by Edmund Sumner and featured in the volume Casa Mexicana.

Published by Thames & Hudson, with texts by journalist Jonathan Bell, the book features 350 images that range from the most remote retreats to homes nestled in urban settings. Mexican houses have always been a mosaic of influences: colonial courtyards, hacienda terraces, indigenous structures, and modernist ideals evoking figures such as Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright and Luis Barragán. These are architectures that emerge from a land shaped by contrasts and dualities, where a building can be both a symbol of exclusivity and a tool for social change.

In Casa Mexicana, the photographic narrative is accompanied by architectural plans and technical drawings, culminating in a thorough study of how contemporary Mexican residences engage with the natural environment, cultural heritage, and local materials.

The volume features works by: Alberto Kalach / T.A.X., Ambrosi Etchegaray, Aranza de Ariño, BAAQ’, Fernanda Canales Arquitectura, Fundación Javier Marín, Gantous Arquitectos Founded, Héctor Barroso, HW Studio, Lucio Muniain et al, Ludwig Godefroy, Manuel Cervantes Estudio, P+0 Arquitectura, Pedro Reyes & Carla Fernández, Rafael Pardo Arquitectos, Reyes Ríos + Larraín Arquitectos, TAC Taller Alberto Calleja, Taller de Arquitectura Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo.

"This publication is a tribute to the talent – both established and emerging – that I have encountered since my first travels to Mexico in the early 2000s. These pages are a culmination of over a decade of exploration, a journey through the geographic, ecological and cultural richness of Mexico. The architecture featured here is not merely a feat of engineering; it is also an expression of spirit, imagination and the cultural poetics of modern- day Mexico.

As Mexico continues to evolve, its future will be shaped by the architects, designers and arti- sans who infuse their creations with innovation, ingenuity and a profound respect for the country’s rich cultural heritage. This book is a celebration of that vision". 

 

Edmund Sumner