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Manuel Parra

Manuel Parra Mercado (1911-1997) was an architect, builder, draftsman, interior and furniture designer, sculptor, ceramist, film set designer and painter.

Manuel "el Caco" Parra was born on April 11, 1911 in Mexico City. He graduated from the Academy of San Carlos as an architect some time after he began his studies there, in 1939. He was the nephew of the architect Antonio Rivas Mercado. He created numerous works, mainly in Mexico City neighborhoods of San Ángel, Coyoacán, Pedregal and Las Lomas,  as well as in the cities of Guanajuato, Monterrey, Morelos, Guerrero, Veracruz and Southern California.

He is known for his contributions to Mexican architecture in modern residential works, and also for venturing into the restoration of haciendas and colonial houses. Parra was known for handling sculptural elements of architecture on site, down to the smallest details.

Parra did not gain fame during his lifetime because he was not fond of the recognition and dissemination of his works. In addition, he was misunderstood by his contemporaries. One of his most representative works is located in Coyoacán: "The strong house" by the filmmaker Emilio Fernández, where he recreated Mexican hacienda architecture. Its main restoration projects are located in San Ángel; the Hacienda Goicoechea, the Casa Blanca and the Convent of Carmen. Approximately 300 residences of a wide variety of types can be attributed to his design.

He is considered a humanist architect, who adapted to the needs of his clients to create their homes. In his constructions he integrates relevant elements such as warmth, sound, lights, and shadows

Parra died on April 9, 1997, in Mexico City.