Latin America: Design in Context
This September, we’re looking beyond a single style or movement and into the many ways Latin American designers and architects have shaped modern life. From Clara Porset’s belief in design for everyday people to Alejandro Cartagena’s examination of the landscapes we create, these books explore a region where modernism, craft, culture, politics, and place are deeply intertwined. Consider it a reminder that the best design doesn’t just make an impression—it tells us something about where we are, how we live, and who we are.
Living Design:
The Writings of Clara Porset
by Clara Porset, edited by Zoë Ryan and Valentina Sarmiento Cruz
Concordia University Press, 2024
Clara Porset believed good design should belong to everyday life. This collection brings together the writings of the Cuban-born, Mexico-based designer whose work bridged modernism, traditional craft, and social responsibility. Through her furniture and interiors—and collaborations with architects including Luis Barragán and Mario Pani—Porset developed a distinctly Mexican approach to modern design. Her words offer a timely reminder that modernism doesn’t have to mean looking forward at the expense of looking around.
Alejandro Cartagena:
Ground Rules
by Alejandro Cartagena
Aperture, 2025
What does a landscape tell us about the people who inhabit it? Ground Rules brings together two decades of Alejandro Cartagena’s photography exploring Mexico’s changing landscapes, suburban sprawl, infrastructure, inequality, and the complicated realities of contemporary life. Moving between documentary photography, collage, vernacular images, and AI-generated work, Cartagena finds humor and humanity in places that can otherwise feel anonymous. The result is a provocative look at how the environments we build ultimately shape the lives we lead.
The Making of Mexican
Modernist Architecture
by Celia Esther Arredondo Zambrano
Taylor & Francis, 2023
Mexican modernism is often celebrated for its bold architecture, distinctive materials, and unmistakable sense of place. The Making of Mexican Modernist Architecture looks beneath that familiar story, examining the academic, social, economic, political, gender, and postcolonial forces that shaped what—and who—defined Mexican modernism. Through the work and perspectives of thirteen architects, the book offers a more complicated portrait of a movement that changed architecture while also revealing the power structures behind it.
Casa Moderna:
Latin American Living
by Philip Jodidio
Thames & Hudson, 2018
Casa Moderna takes us inside the contemporary homes of Latin America, exploring architecture that responds to climate, landscape, culture, and the rhythms of everyday life. From Mexico to Brazil and beyond, the book showcases residences that feel deeply connected to their surroundings while offering a distinctly modern point of view. It’s a visual reminder that great residential design isn’t about importing a particular aesthetic—it’s about understanding where you are and creating a home that belongs there.
Shelf aware.
Forum proves that open storage doesn't have to be an open question. Solid wood slats create rhythm, depth and an airy architectural presence, while floating shelves leave plenty of room for the things worth showing off.
