The architecture and cities of Northern Mexico from independence to the present : Tamaulipas, Nuevo Le{acute}on, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California Norte and Sur

## Ack n o w l e d gMen Ts xiv The Architecture and Cities of Northern Mexico school, when we walked home together, and has shared his insights regarding maritime history, legal theory, and Irish wit. In Tucson, María Jesús Acuña Rascón, a native of Sonora, was unfailing helpful in assisting with particular Mexican nuances in Spanish. María Perdomo shared her experiences of growing up in Los Mochis, Sin. Gloria Giffords and the late Spencer Giffords generously shared their collections of Mexican art, numerous insights, and their dry sense of humor. Joanne Stuhr, former curator of the Tucson Museum of Art, was inspirational with her vision for a regional culture for fine arts in the American Southwest. Mark Lochrin helped on a variety of computerrelated challenges. Rubén M. Moreno, director of Mariachi Luz de Luna of Tucson, Arizona, assisted me in selecting a number of the quotations from Mexican mariachi and ranchero music that appear at the beginning of several chapters. In Austin, the staff at the University of Texas Press were unfailingly helpful in the production of this book. Jim Burr, Sarah Rosen, Lynne Chapman, former Editorin-Chief Theresa May, and freelance copyeditor extraordinaire Nancy Warrington, Nancy Bryan, Regina Fuentes, Kaila Wyllys, and the graphic designer, Carrie House, each made vital contributions in making this book a reality and deserve special mention and thanks. Colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture who were helpful include Larry Speck, former Dean of the School, who took the time to write letters of support for grants; Vince Snyder; and Michael Benedikt, among others. In Houston, Stephen Fox from the Rice University School of Architecture made valuable comments on earlier versions of the text, especially on the chapter on Tamaulipas and the section on Ciudad Juárez, Chih., which would not be as complete without his rigorous input. Doug Oliver, also from the Rice University School of Architecture, has been a vital colleague through the years. In San Antonio, the following individuals deserve special acknowledgment. From the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Dept. of Architecture, Venetta Williams, Diane May, and especially Roxanne Cuevas have been helpful in countless ways and able to surmount numerous bureaucratic hurdles. Special thanks to Martín Rodríguez and his staff for their outstanding support in solving complex computer problems. From the UTSA College of Architecture, Dean John Murphy lent his support, while Nidia Webber assisted me with printing preliminary versions of the text. Analytical documentation drawings and travel during the summer of 2009 to Monterrey, Ciudad Victoria, and Tampico were made possible by a grant from the Mexico Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Special thanks to Harriet Romo and Olivia López of the UTSA Mexico Center for their support. Faculty colleagues who were helpful include Mark Blizard, former Department Chair, who supported me with funding to travel to Ciudad Juárez in the fall of 2007, and current Department Chair Vince Canizaro, who has helped focus many of the arguments regarding the elusive issue of "place." I also benefited from ongoing conversations with my colleagues Bob Baron The states of Northern Mexico--Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California Norte and Sur--have architecture, urbanism, and landscape design that offer numerous lessons in how to build well, but this constructed environment is largely undervalued or unknown. To make this architecture better known to a wide professional, academic, and public audience, this book presents the first comprehensive overview in either English or Spanish of the architecture, urban landscapes, and cities of Northern Mexico from the country's emergence as a modern nation in 1821 to the present day. Profusely illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, maps, and analytical drawings of urban cores of major cities, The Architecture and Cities of Northern Mexico systematically examines significant works of architecture in large cities and small towns in each state, from the earliest buildings in the urban core to the newest at the periphery. Edward R. Burian describes the most memorable works of architecture in each city in greater detail in terms of their spatial organization, materials, and sensory experience. He also includes a concise geographical and historical summary of the region that provides a useful background for the discussions of the works of architecture. Burian concludes the book with a brief commentary on lessons learned and possible futures for the architectural culture of the region, as well as the first comprehensive biographical listing of the architects practicing in Northern Mexico during the past two centuries. The states of Northern Mexico—Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California Norte and Sur—have architecture, urbanism, and landscape design that offer numerous lessons in how to build well, but this constructed environment is largely undervalued or unknown. To make this architecture better known to a wide professional, academic, and public audience, this book presents the first comprehensive overview in either English or Spanish of the architecture, urban landscapes, and cities of Northern Mexico from the country's emergence as a modern nation in 1821 to the present day. Profusely illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, maps, and analytical drawings of urban cores of major cities, The Architecture and Cities of Northern Mexico systematically examines significant works of architecture in large cities and small towns in each state, from the earliest buildings in the urban core to the newest at the periphery. Edward R. Burian describes the most memorable works of architecture in each city in greater detail in terms of their spatial organization, materials, and sensory experience. He also includes a concise geographical and historical summary of the region that provides a useful background for the discussions of the works of architecture. Burian concludes the book with a brief commentary on lessons learned and possible futures for the architectural culture of the region, as well as the first comprehensive biographical listing of the architects practicing in Northern Mexico during the past two centuries. Contents......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction......Page 20 The Geography and Landscapes of Northern Mexico......Page 25 A Historical Overview of Northern Mexico: Evolving Urban, Architectural, and Landscape Types......Page 30 Tamaulipas......Page 44 Nuevo León......Page 72 Coahuila......Page 114 Chihuahua......Page 162 Durango......Page 197 Sonora......Page 215 Sinaloa......Page 239 Baja California Norte and Sur......Page 274 Conclusions: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for the Architectural Culture of the Region......Page 307 Appendix: Biographies of Architects, Engineers, Designers, and Builders in Northern Mexico, 1821 to the Present......Page 312 Notes......Page 330 Bibliography......Page 336 Index......Page 344 An overview of the architecture and urbanism of the region of Northern Mexico from independence in 1821 to the present day, intended to provide a more balanced view of its undervalued architecture. Beginning with a brief geographical and historical overview, the book provides an outline of the architecture of each city during the time period, and concludes with a brief commentary on lessons learned and the possible future for the architectural culture of the region Profusely illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, maps, and analytical plan drawings of urban cores, this is the first comprehensive overview in either English or Spanish of the architecture, urban landscapes, and cities of Northern Mexico