Ricardo Legorreta (1931–2011) was a Mexican architect who designed houses, public buildings and master plans across Mexico, the United States and beyond. Born in Mexico City, he graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1953 and worked for ten years with José Villagrán García before opening his own office in 1963. A follower of Luis Barragán, he carried Barragán's bright colour, play of light and shadow and solid geometric forms from houses into hotels, factories, offices and schools. He received the UIA Gold Medal in 1999, the AIA Gold Medal in 2000 and the Praemium Imperiale in 2011.
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The Camino Real Hotel, Mexico City (1968) is among his best-known works, as is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua (1993) in Nicaragua. The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey (1991) has eleven gallery halls and a central courtyard with a water mirror. The Papalote Children's Museum (1993) in Mexico City uses geometric figures and traditional Mexican tiles, and in the United States he designed the San Antonio Central Library (1995). His Fashion and Textile Museum (2003) in London is a converted warehouse coloured hot pink, orange, yellow and blue.
Camino Real Hotel, Mexico City1968 · Mexico City
Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua1993 · Managua
San Antonio Central Library1995 · San Antonio
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey1991 · Monterrey
Papalote Children's Museum1993 · Mexico City
Fashion and Textile Museum2003 · London