Born in a family of Austrian origin in 1916, Juan Sordo Madaleno was one of the most significant & influential Mexican Architects of his era. During his studies at the School of Architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), he worked with the Spanish Architect José Arnal and opened his architectural venture, practicing under his name. Having worked with renowned architects like Luis Barragán, Jose Villagran Garcia, José Adolfo Wiechers, Augusto H. Álvarez, etc., he also formed a partnership with Augusto where the primary focus was to embellish the structure with the help of precise, perfect forms to gain a greater level of functionality and to emphasize on the quality of the structure’s construction in coherence with the meticulous design process.
Sordo Madaleno’s work began to gain international recognition from various critics and specialists of his time, who claimed his designs to be “one of the best office buildings in Mexico” and that his structures stood out in the crowd due to the excellent proportions of its members. As claimed by the known U.S. critic Myers, Sordo Madaleno’s work portrayed “an unusual understanding of spatial relationships while projecting a sensitivity for color and materials”. Settled initially in the Bauhaus style and the influence of the Swiss-French architect, designer and urban planner Le Corbusier, his design specialty was hotels and residential buildings. He was also named an Honorary fellow by the American Institute of Architects.
Defined by its constant reinvention in terms of architecture and design, his firm ‘Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos’ thrives on its aspirations and by quenching its thirst for new challenges. The firm has a strong foundation based on its philosophy of treating its valuable clientele as guests and their team members as an irreplaceable core element of the firm. By thoroughly examining each potential project obtained by the firm to augment its ‘social, ethical, design and programmatic value’, the firm differentiates each project where the only commonality between them is the undeniable dedication and passion towards the level of quality, excellence, and detailing of the design.
Sordo Madaleno’s ideology preached that to adapt to a project’s specific circumstances and requirements, developing a close personal relationship with the clients is a must. He believed that all projects arise from a common source, a conversation about ideas and dreams. Establishing a friendly relationship with the clients and discussing their vision brings both sides together on the same page as they move towards their ultimate goals. While the clients express their visions and ideas about the project, the working team welcomes the diverse way of thinking with open arms and “fosters space for growth as well as the individual creative expression”.
The structures developed by the Mexican Architect were not only known for their “careful proportions but were also recognized for his great skill in handling the topography too. ‘Moderne Architektur in Mexiko’ writer Max Cetto, wrote in its 1962 feature that the buildings designed by Juan Sordo Madaleno were designed with a “sure hand” and the buildings he produced somehow adapted to the sites, breathed an air of elegance were impeccably designed in terms of the distribution and detail that project a sense of harmony.
His architectural ability and great sense of practicality etched his name into the architectural industry & invited positive critics like famed Argentine architect & painter Francisco Bullrich who saw Sordo Madaleno as an architect who understood how to “harmoniously order the space” with “great sobriety figurative rigor”. His exquisite taste in materials and refined detailing earned him an opportunity to partner with the well-known architect José Adolfo Wiechers, where he collaborated with him to design and build Plaza Universidad, the first shopping mall in Mexico (1969). This project not only showcased his architectural caliber & proficiency but was also the stepping stone in his career followed by a series of commercial projects that not only nudged his architectural style in a different direction but also influenced the urban fabric of the city.
Sordo Madaleno’s collaborative effort in the construction of the Bancomer Center alongside H. Álvarez and José Adolfo Wiechers resulted in the formation of the company Sordo-Álvarez-Wiechers. Inspired by his father’s architectural practice, Juan Sordo Madaleno’s son Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas entered the architecture faculty at the Universidad Iberoamericana where he worked under the guidance of Augusto H. Álvarez in parallel to his academics. After graduating from university, he founded the Sordo Madaleno y Asociados in 1983.
Post the death of his father Juan Sordo Madaleno, Javier took it upon himself to continue his father’s legacy and run his architectural firm which is now officially known as the Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos. Juan’s son guided the firm to its present glory based on his father’s ideology and philosophy by letting each project adapt to its specific circumstances with respect to the client’s vision, context, and budget. For improving the living conditions and creating a better city, the firm also became involved in projects with a significant social and urban impact that have regenerated their surroundings over time, added value, and created enhanced & improved urban living conditions.
To honor the legacy of Juan Sordo Madaleno and to extend the firm’s commitment to society and its surroundings, the firm has implemented “international environmental certificates” to its set of projects and has also completed numerous projects, free of charge, that have had a positive impact on the environment of the city and improved the quality of life significantly.
Reference List
- Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos (2018). History – Sordo Madaleno [online]. Available at: https://www.sordomadaleno.com/history [Accessed 18 October 2022]
- Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos (2022). About Us | Sordo Madaleno [online]. Available at: https://www.sordomadaleno.com/sm/about-us [Accessed 20 October 2022]
- Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos (2015). Philosophy | Sordo Madaleno [online]. Available at: https://www.sordomadaleno.com/sm/about-philosophy [Accessed 21 October 2022]
- The Museum of Modern Art – MoMA (2016). Juan Sordo Madaleno | MoMA [online]. Available at: https://www.moma.org/artists/45532 [Accessed 22 October 2022]
- Wikimedia Foundation Inc. – Wikipedia (2009). Juan Sordo Madaleno – Wikipedia [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Sordo_Madaleno [Accessed 19 October 2022]
