Kathryn E. O’Rourke. Modern Architecture in Mexico City: History, Representation, and the Shaping of a Capital.

Kathryn E. O'Rourke's study reveals that Mexican modernism's intellectual roots trace back to colonial architectural history, shaping the nation's built environment from 1900 to 1953. The research identifies a paradigm shift in architecture, where federal-sponsored projects fused international modernism with indigenous elements, culminating in University City—a landmark embracing ahistoricist modernism. O'Rourke argues that architects like Luis Barragán, despite rejecting nationalistic styles, subtly 'Mexicanized' modernism through vernacular techniques and folk art influences. The study employs archival analysis of primary texts (e.g., Baxter's Spanish-Colonial Architecture in Mexico) and secondary sources, complemented by photographic documentation, to trace the evolution of architectural representation in post-revolutionary Mexico.

Delpar, H. (2018). Kathryn E. O’Rourke. Modern Architecture in Mexico City: History, Representation, and the Shaping of a Capital. The American Historical Review, 123(4), 1360–1361. https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/rhy103