Mexican architecture of the twentieth century: the intersection of architectural theory and practice

Garma Montiel, GH, 2025. Mexican architecture of the twentieth century: the intersection of architectural theory and practice. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

This PhD Thesis explores the convergence of architectural theory and practice in Mexico in the twentieth century by examining the influence of European thinking on Mexican architecture. The research aims to determine the status of Mexican architectural theory in the late twentieth century by focusing on the declining connectivity of theory and practice and questioning theory’s role in creating Mexican architecture at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Specifically, whether the intersection of theory and practice fosters critical discursive frameworks that mediate architectural thinking and production within broader political, social and cultural contexts. The project’s literature review encompasses publications on late twentieth-century architectural theory, Mexican architectural history, and the construction of Mexican identity. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with prominent Mexican architects and scholars who provide insights into Mexico’s theoretical, practical and academic architectural contexts.

The thesis underscores the key role of architectural theory in shaping architecture and contends that it remains vital for developing positions that address contemporary challenges and concerns. In Mexico, European modernism influenced architecture from 1920 to 1960, providing a robust theoretical and ideological framework that defined Functionalism and affected José Villagrán’s architectural theory; these two discourses defined Mexican architecture until the 1960s. From the 1970s onwards, European and American postmodernism had a limited impact on Mexican architecture, and multiple perspectives emerged in the country – a new architectural monumentality, regionalism and individual formal tendencies. This investigation reveals that towards the new millennium, the intersection of theory and practice diminished, and the country adopted pragmatic solutions to resolve its needs, leading to considering theory as an accessory. The research findings recognise the importance of the intersection of theory, architecture and practice in the twentieth century. It highlights the importance of adopting a broader definition of architectural theory and reconnecting theory with practice to promote an increasingly reflective and critically engaged architectural culture in Mexico at the begining of the twenty-first century.

Item Type:	Thesis
Description:	Abridged version.
Creators:	Garma Montiel, G.H.
Contributors:	Name Role NTU ID ORCID Pepin, M. Thesis supervisor DES3PEPINMA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7028-3745 Souto Galvan, A. Thesis supervisor ADB3SOUTOA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0110-0137
Date:	June 2025
Rights:	The copyright in this work is held by the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study or personal, non-commercial research. Any re use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed to the author.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Record created by:	Jeremy Silvester
Date Added:	15 Aug 2025 08:49
Last Modified:	15 Aug 2025 08:57
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54211

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