--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't ask me about this building or that…" description: "\"Don't ask me about this building or that one, don't look at what I do, see what I see.\" — Luis Barragan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png" --- # Don't ask me about this building or that one, don't look… ![“Don't ask me about this building or that one, don't look at what I do, see what I see.” quote by Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png) > “Don't ask me about this building or that one, don't look at what I do, see what I see.” [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges observers to look beyond the building’s exterior and perceive the underlying visual experience he creates. **In simple terms:** See beyond the structure to the perception. Key Takeaway Focus on visual experience. Themes architecture perception art design Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - gallery tours - urban planning meetings - design critiques Key Concepts Phenomenology visual language spatial experience Questions to Reflect On - What does the building hide? - How does perception alter meaning? A Different Perspective The building itself may distract from intended perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-building-3897807/) [Ask me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-me/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Building Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-don-2408067/) [Don Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-look/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever future you're building, don't try to program everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/whatever-future-you-re-building-don-t-try-to-program-everything/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Don't ask me to put up a shelf, but I love engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/don-t-ask-me-to-put-up-a-shelf-but-i-love-engineering/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [“Don’t look where you don’t want to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mack/don-t-look-where-you-don-t-want-to-go/) [Gary Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mack/) > [Don't give me that look. I'm not trying to find out who you are. I don't care who you are. I just want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/don-t-give-me-that-look-i-m-not-trying-to-find-out-who-you-are-i-don/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I don't look any further than what's right in front of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/i-don-t-look-any-further-than-what-s-right-in-front-of-me/) [Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/) > [“Do you trust me?" "Yes" "Then don't look back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mangum/do-you-trust-me-yes-then-don-t-look-back/) [Lisa Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mangum/) > [If I die, don't cry. Look at the sky and say goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luphielia/if-i-die-don-t-cry-look-at-the-sky-and-say-goodbye/) [Luphielia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luphielia/) > [Don't look down on anyone unless you are helping them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-look-down-on-anyone-unless-you-are-helping-them-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't look at anything for who I should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-don-t-look-at-anything-for-who-i-should-be/) [Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/) > [Bill, don’t look at me — I’m ’ideous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bill-don-t-look-at-me-i-m-ideous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thanks, you don't look so hot yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/thanks-you-don-t-look-so-hot-yourself/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [If you don't look after your girl then someone else will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mensah/if-you-don-t-look-after-your-girl-then-someone-else-will/) [Dave Mensah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mensah/) > [“Sasha was the epitome of the "don't look because you'll be caught like a deer in headlights" type of guy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia-purdy/sasha-was-the-epitome-of-the-don-t-look-because-you-ll-be-caught-like/) [Alexia Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia-purdy/) > [I don't look back at my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-don-t-look-back-at-my-career/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [I'm going to do everything I can, so that I don't look back and say I didn't do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-so-that-i-don-t-look-back-and-say-i/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) ## More by Luis Barragan > [Art is made by the alone for the alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/art-is-made-by-the-alone-for-the-alone/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [I don't divide architecture, landscape and gardening; to me they are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/i-don-t-divide-architecture-landscape-and-gardening-to-me-they-are-one/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [It is essential to an architect to know how to see: I mean to see in such a way that the vision is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/it-is-essential-to-an-architect-to-know-how-to-see-i-mean-to-see-in/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [In the creation of a garden, the architect invites the partnership of the Kingdom of Nature. In a beautiful garden the majesty of nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/in-the-creation-of-a-garden-the-architect-invites-the-partnership-of/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [Only in intimate communion with solitude may man find himself. Solitude is good company and my architecture is not for those who fear or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/only-in-intimate-communion-with-solitude-may-man-find-himself/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [In alarming proportions the following words have disappeared from architectural publications: beauty, inspiration, magic, sorcery, enchantment, and also serenity, mystery, silence, privacy, astonishment. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/in-alarming-proportions-the-following-words-have-disappeared-from/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [My house is my refuge, an emotional piece of architecture, not a cold piece of convenience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/my-house-is-my-refuge-an-emotional-piece-of-architecture-not-a-cold/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [“Architecture is an art when one consciously or unconsciously creates aesthetic emotion in the atmosphere and when this enviroment produces well being”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/architecture-is-an-art-when-one-consciously-or-unconsciously-creates/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [I have devoted myself to architecture as a sublime act of poetic imagination. Consequently, I am only a symbol for all those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/i-have-devoted-myself-to-architecture-as-a-sublime-act-of-poetic/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [I think that the ideal space must contain elements of magic, serenity, sorcery and mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/i-think-that-the-ideal-space-must-contain-elements-of-magic-serenity/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [A garden must combine the poetic and he mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/a-garden-must-combine-the-poetic-and-he-mysterious-with-a-feeling-of/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [Beauty is the oracle that speaks to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/beauty-is-the-oracle-that-speaks-to-us-all/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [Any work of architecture that does not express serenity is a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/any-work-of-architecture-that-does-not-express-serenity-is-a-mistake/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [The Art of Seeing. It is essential to an architect to know how to see: I mean, to see in such a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/the-art-of-seeing-it-is-essential-to-an-architect-to-know-how-to-see/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [Architecture is a art when one consciously or unconsciously creates aesthetic emotion in the atmosphere and when this environment produces well being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/architecture-is-a-art-when-one-consciously-or-unconsciously-creates/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) [Explore all 18 Luis Barragan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) ## More Ask me quotes > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Space Jam is my favorite movie. Don't ask me why, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/space-jam-is-my-favorite-movie-don-t-ask-me-why-it-just-is/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [If I had lost a leg, I would tell them, instead of a boy, no one would ever ask me if I was 'over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/if-i-had-lost-a-leg-i-would-tell-them-instead-of-a-boy-no-one-would/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Browse all 1,282 Ask me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-me/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't ask me about this building or that one, don't look at what I do, see what I see.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luis Barragan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that-one-don-t-look-at-what-i-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ask me" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that-one-don-t-look-at-what-i-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/luis-barragan-29268_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that_1244574.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't ask me about this building or that one, don't look at what I do, see what I see.” — Luis Barragan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Luis Barragan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't ask me about this building...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that-one-don-t-look-at-what-i-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/don-t-ask-me-about-this-building-or-that-one-don-t-look-at-what-i-do/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```