Architecture

Colonial and urban Architecture mixed in Bogotá

"The urban morphology and typology of colonial buildings in Bogota were maintained even late nineteenth century, long after independence from Colombia (1810). The urban design matched with the checkerboard plane introduced by the Indian laws since the mid-sixteenth century. This persistence of the colonial setting is visible, now part of La Candelaria, the historical center of Bogota. Also until the late nineteenth century, kept up the colonial houses of two storeys, with courtyard, gabled roofs, ceramic tiles and balconies. In some cases, these balconies were filled with glass during the Republican period, distinguishing feature of a particular architecture of the sector ..

The "Republican Architecture" was the style that prevailed between 1830 and 1930. Although there were attempts to consolidate a modern language, only to construction of University City and White City for the National University of Colombia (1936 to 1939), achieved this purpose. The course of this work was developed by German architect James Daly, although architects of rationlist trends participated in the design of campus buildings . Besides this aspect, it is also manifest in the Bogotan architecture trends close to the art deco, expressionism and organic architecture. This last trend was welcomed by Bogotan architects in the second half of the twentieth century as Rogelio Salmona,a best Colombian architect in history."

 Good examples of colonial buildings dot La Candelaria. The biggest wow for me was the Franciscan Iglesia La Tercera, with construction beginning in 1760 & full of exquisite Rococo carvings… probably of walnut, very dark & sensual: