Guadalajara - Architecture

Architecture

The architectural style of the colony is the result of Spanish architectural trends that, during the founding of Guadalajara, showed up on the European continent leaving a parallel influence in this city. In the historical center the purest example of neoclassical architecture can be appreciated, at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Teatro Degollado and nearby buildings, in the French colony "Lafayette" this architectural style is in some residential houses that were converted into boutiques and restaurants. The historical center hosts religious and civil colonial buildings, which are noted for their architectural and historical significance and are a rich mix of styles which are rooted in indigenous cultural contributions (mainly from Ute origin), incorporated in the Mozarabic and castizo, and later in modern European influences (mainly French and Italian) and American (specifically, from the United States).

Also, the historical center has an excellent assortment of museums, theaters, galleries, libraries, auditoriums and concert halls, particular mention may be made to Hospicio Cabañas (which dates from the 18th century), the Teatro Degollado (considered the oldest Opera House in Mexico), the Teatro Galerías and the Teatro Diana. Currently there are projects under construction that include cultural spaces like the Guggenheim Museum and the University Cultural Center. The Hospicio Cabañas, which is home to some of the paintings (murals and easel) by José Clemente Orozco, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Among the many structures of beauty is the International Headquarters Temple of La Luz del Mundo in Colonia Hermosa Provincia, which is the largest in Latin America.

During the Porfiriato the French style invaded the city because of the passion of former president Porfirio Díaz in the trends of French style, also Italian architects were responsible for shaping the Gothic structures that were built in the city. The passage of time reflected different trends from the baroque to churrigueresque, Gothic and neoclassical pure. Even the architectural lines typical of the decades of the 40's, 50's and 60's the Art Deco and bold lines of postmodern architects of the time. Some architectural styles found in the city are:

• Incipient Baroque
• Baroque
• Viceregal
• Neoclassical
• Modern
• Eclectic
• Art Deco
• Neo-Gothic

The modern architecture of Guadalajara has a numerous figures of different architectural production from the neo-regionalism to the primitiveness of the 60's. Some of these architects are: Rafael Urzua, Luis Barragán, Ignacio Díaz Morales, Pedro Castellano, Eric Coufal, Julio de la Peña, Eduardo Ibáñez Valencia.