Richard Rogers Eulogy for Ricardo Legorreta

Ricardo and I met over 30 years ago in San Diego when we were lecturing and we have been close friends ever since.

Ruthie and I have spent many holidays with Ricardo and our families in Mexico and have visited and explored lots of beautiful cities along with many of Legorreta +Legorreta buildings. We ate, drank and talked our way around Mexico, discussing architecture and life.

Ricardo is one of a handful of great modern architects, an architect whose buildings are not only beautiful but have a real sense of place. The marriage of landscape and form enlivened by brilliant colours especially pink, which also happens to be my favourite colour, is unforgettable.

Over three years ago we entered and won a competition for an office tower on Paseo de La Reforma in the centre of Mexico City for BBVA Bancomer, now under construction. Since that time, our two offices have worked closely together and Ricardo’s son, Victor, is leading the project in Mexico. I remember well how excited Ricardo was when Victor joined his company and became his partner.

Every year Ruthie and I visit Mexico and immerse ourselves in its great culture. Mexican arts and artefacts are unique and have continuously developed over thousands of years and you can certainly trace pre-Colombian forms in Ricardo’s work.

Ricardo was a wonderful person, sophisticated and kind, who we shall never forget. Ruthie and I will miss him dearly.

Richard Rogers