Contemporary Mexican houses shaped by Mesoamerican ideas, revealing a vibrant design movement rooted in the history, landscape and craft of Mexico's oldest civilizations. A new New World.

In her newly published book, Mesoamerican Modern: Ancient Ideas in Contemporary Mexican Homes (Phaidon, 2026), Su Wu–author, curator and leading advocate for Mexican design–explores the living presence of Mesoamerican cultures in a Modern architecture and design movement distinctly of the Americas.

In these spaces of private reflection, ancient ideas are treated not as relics of prehistory but as vital sources of technical expertise and symbolic significance. In assembling the elements that together constitute this engagement with the past, she reveals a larger understanding, one at the heart of what was so blatantly mislabeled as New World. Rather, it is the oldest ideas driving an expanded narrative of material, craft and care—and creating nothing less than a new New World. The future of design is being rewritten in Mexico.

A book signing follows the presentation.

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Photo Credits: Luis Garvan

Location & Attendee Information

  • What are the appropriate ages for this activity?Person Ages 13 and older
  • Are pets, animals, or service animals permitted?Dog on a leash No pets, service animals permitted
  • Are food and drinks permitted?Food and drink No outside food or drinks
  • What are the mobility considerations for this activity?Person walking Seated activity
  • What type of parking is available?Car Parking & handicap parking available
  • Are restrooms available?Restroom sign Restrooms available
  • Is this an indoor or outdoor activity?Sun Indoor activity
  • What is the policy regarding smoking?Cigarette with smoke No smoking or e-cigarettes
  • What type of ADA accessibility is available?Wheelchair Wheelchair accessible
The organizer of this event is: Modernism Week Annenberg Theater Activity

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