By: Angie Lizeth Castelblanco and Paula Ximena Bulla
ARCHITECTURE OF BOGOTA
In the next paper, we are going to represent the importance of the wonderful and rich history of architecture in Bogota. First of all, the city of Bogota, as the capital of the republic is a center of dissemination of ideas in all the areas of cultural activity in Colombia, such as art, painting, poetry and in this case we are focusing on architecture. Then, it is going to be involved the history of some places, so we are going to take into account the date, how it was constructed, who constructed it and everything that has to see with the history; where they are located; some activities we can do there, so it means how we can enjoy every place; and finally, some places near as well, such as restaurants or other places where you can do other activities to have fun. In addition, we thought it is so important that people from the city, Colombia or other countries discover the amazing places Bogota has to be visited. In conclusion, this paper has the objective to give a better perception of the city to the people who read us and teach them new places which can be visited with family or friends to know more about culture or have a nice time. Bogota has beautiful pieces of art in its architecture. Around all the city it can be found many places which have history and are built by our ancestors. So,
let’s start naming those places which have a cultural importance for the city and are visited by people who love to discover architecture. Some of those places are: Colpatria Tower, Public Library “El Tintal”, Towers of the Park, Cultural Center Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Golden Museum, National Museum, Luis Angel Arango Library, Third Millenium Park, Public Library Virgilio Barco and Bicentennial Park. This paper is going to show you those places one by one and you are going to discover more about them. Colpatria Tower It is 42 years old, was built between 1973 and 1978. According to the webpage of Scotiabank Colpatria which owns the tower,
they
give
some
important
information: This tower has become an emblematic structure of the capital, has
Image 1: Colpatria Tower
50 floors and a height of 196 meters. Located on the corner of 7h avenue and street 26, marking the border between the international center sector and the historical center. Colpatria Tower was the largest structure in Bogotá and the country. Also, the Tower is dressed with 12,180 linear meters of LED nodes which allow the projection of images that can be observed from a large part of the capital. The installation of this technology took four months and contains the sum of 40,600 light bulbs, divided into 812 strips. It is near Independence Park. Finally, from the highest point of here you can observe a large part of the city of Bogota.
Public Library “El Tintal” It is located at Kennedy-Avenue Cali city # 6C 09. Its construction began in 1998 and was completed
in 2002.
It was
built on the
foundations of an old waste transfer plant. Its name pays tribute to the most important representative of the Afro-Colombian literature. It has an area of 6,650 m², has a reading room
Image 2: Public Library “El Tintal”
for youth and adults with a capacity for 500 people, is composed of: - A reference room - Rooms for group work - Multimedia room - Computer room. There is also a children's room Image 2.2: Public Library “El Tintal”
with a capacity for 200 children
with a reading room, workshops, playroom and multimedia. Among its facilities there is also an auditorium for 160 people, three multiple rooms, a room for temporary exhibitions and a room for information about Bogotá. It is near the "Tintal Plaza" shopping center. So, this library has many interesting rooms to discover new worlds through the books.
Towers of The Park It was built by Rogelio Salmona, located in Street
87,
Bogotá.
They
began
its
construction in 1968, finished in 1970. It is 30 years old. It is near the Plaza de Toros, the Independence Park and the magnificent
panoramic
view
of
the
foothills. This is a residential complex.
Image 3: Towers of The Park
According to Duque (2011):”The first designs of the buildings, its shapes and forms, were organized to create continuity between the inside and the out, between the community space and the public space”, it has "Calle de las Escalinatas", up to the last floors of the buildings, stairs, gardens and terraces. With this construction was tried to renovate the area and give an image of a natural place through its architecture.
Cultural Center Gabriel Garcia Marquez This is a big center and library where you can go and enjoy yourself. It is located in “La Candelaria” neighborhood of the Colombian
capital,
near
the
Independence Museum and Colon Image 4: Cultural Center Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Bogota theater. Firstly, according
to Saenz (2016), one block from the Plaza de Bolívar on the eastern side; a strategic location that manages to link a cultural network with several neighboring buildings such as the Luis Ángel Arango Library, the Museum of the Bank of the Republic, 29 university entities, 24 educational facilities, 7 libraries and a
complex of museums and cultural communities that host approximately 8,000 users per day. Besides, it is a bookstore that has more than 80,000 books, an auditorium for 324 people and another for children, an alternate room, two classrooms for 35 people, a record store, a restaurant and a cafe. It has a total area of 3,200 square meters on which a built area of 9,500 square meters is embedded. It was built by Rogelio salmona, his last work built before he died. So, in this wonderful center you can find many areas where you can enjoy and discover stories or information on the thousands of books it has.
Golden Museum This is one of the most important museums in Bogota, which has many interesting figures made of gold which represent the history of the country. It was founded in 1939, located on Avenue 5 #15-82 near the International Museum of Emerald and Saint Francisco Church.
Image 5: Golden Museum
According to Nicogoo (2019), this museum was built because the Republic Bank began to protect the archeological heritage of Colombia. The first object was “Poporo Quimbaya� and has been exhibited for 70 years so far. Besides, this museum has the golden Muisca raft discovered in Pasca in 1969, the base of El Dorado myth. In addition, thanks to a reconstruction, the museum has an auditory which contains some temporary exhibitions, a cafeteria, a restaurant and a souvenir store. Finally, the museum has a collection of 55.000 pieces and we can find bilingual descriptions in almost all the exhibitions. Then, this museum has important golden pieces which are an image of the history of the country, you can go there and discover them.
National Museum If you go to this museum you can discover many important objects of the history of Colombia. It is located between Avenue 7 and Avenue 6, between Streets 28 and 29 in Bogotá, near The Museum of Modern Art Mambo and The Botero Museum. With an age of 197 years, The National Museum of Bogota Image 6: National Museum
was created in 1823, this is one of the
oldest museums in America. According to the web page of the museum. First, it presents the collections of history, art, anthropology and ethnography in 17 permanent rooms distributed in 3 floors: the first 6 are on the first floor, from 7 to 13 on the second and from 14 to 17 on the third. Finally, in these rooms are exhibited about 2,500 works and objects, symbols of history and national heritage. In conclusion, The Museum presents samples of national and international history, art and archaeology. Additionally, it offers a varied academic and cultural program that includes conferences, concerts, theater and dance presentations and audiovisual projections, among others.
Luis Angel Arango Library This beautiful library is a wonderful representation of architecture in Bogota. It was built in the year 1962 by the architect German Samper and the idea of building this was of Luis Angel Arango who worked in the Republic Bank, located in the street 11 #4-14 near to “Chorro de Quevedo” and many fabulous restaurants.
Image 7: Luis Angel Arango Library
For instance, “La Bruja” and “El Aquelarre”. According to Gamboa (2013), Arango wanted to build this library to have all the books the bank was acquiring so far. This library has an area of 7.200 m2. First, the author before quoted says: “The library consists of a body that seems to float, generating public space under it as the slope is pronounced. The glass is the principal agent in this volumetric flight as well as in the different surfaces that cut through the initial volume through flat and sloping ceilings to illuminate the internal spaces”. So, this indescribable building has a great and interesting shape which involves people. Second, if you want to go to this library, you will discover many books that you are looking for or you can go to the area of information. This one is an important part of the library which has a volume that seems to grow from the soil, detaching of the gravity thanks to the expansions made in the roof and the illumination. So, this is a good idea to go and visit this library to discover the amazing architecture it has and read many books which can open a new world.
Third Millenium Park In this big and amazing park, you can have a fun time with your family or friends. It is located Bogotá,
in
the
the
center capital
of of
Colombia, Avenue Street 6 No. Image 8: Third Millenium Park
11-14
between
Sixth
and
Ninth streets, and Avenue 10th and Avenue Caracas has an area of 16.5 hectares. Near the Third Millennium station of the Transmilenio system and in front of the park is the Bogotá Metropolitan Police. According to the web page of the IDRD. The objective of the creation of this playground is to provide the capital with an urban place with a civic, metropolitan, integrating and symbolic character, in which
Bogota's citizens have the opportunity to enjoy a recreational and healthy scenario. This project was born in 1998, as part of the Recovery Policy of Bogota, and arose due to the need to welcome the new millennium, also, because the scenario became the first step to provide a cleaner breath to this area formerly known as the "street of the cartridge" or old neighborhood Santa Ines. The park was officially handed over to the community in July 2002 thanks to the joint work of entities such as: The IDU, the Secretary of the Environment, the Secretary of Social Integration, the “Caja de Vivienda Popular”, the “Fondo de Ventas Populares”, the IDIPRON, the Metropolitan Police, the Secretary of Government, District Planning and Urban Renewal. Finally, thanks to this project you can discover a recreational space where you can enjoy with others.
Public Library Virgilio Barco
It is located between 50th Avenue and 63rd Street in Bogotá. It was designed by the
architect
Salmona. (Imaginario, Image 9: Public Library Virgilio Barco
information
Rogelio
According A.)
and
about
to her this
library we can find many important things to present: Its construction started in 1999 and finished in December 2000. It is located in an area of about 13 hectares distributed in the form of a scalene triangle. The total construction area covers 16,092 m². It is on a lot of land that had been for some time a deposit of waste from the construction of the park and that, before being used for the library, had been filled in to build a restaurant on it. After the death of ex-president
Virgilio Barco Vargas in 1997, the promoter and sponsor of the project, those responsible decided to dedicate the library to his memory.
It is located in the Simon Bolivar Metropolitan Park. It is near a botanical garden, a golf course, the Children's Museum, the Sports Palace, the Simon Bolivar Water Complex, the Saltpeter Sports Unit, the High Performance Center, the Artisans' Square and finally the Virgilio Barco Library.
The building is structured in three floors. On the ground floor you can find a bookstore, shops, a cafeteria, a multipurpose room with a capacity of 250 people, an open-air theater and workshops. Also, at this level are the parking
services,
deposits,
book
Image 9.2: Public Library Virgilio Barco
reception, classification and employees’ area. The intermediate floor has a reading room for children, a newspaper library, the reading room called "Bogotå", an auditorium with a capacity for 410 people and a music room with a maximum capacity of 180 people. The last level offers an exhibition room, an open-air theater and the paths on the roof.
Bicentennial Park This is one of the most beautiful parks in the city which
has
an
incredible
architecture with a fresh nature. It is in an area of 10,000 located
square on
26th
meters, Avenue,
between Streets 5a. and 7a. Image 10: Bicentennial Park
Close to The Museum of
Modern Art Mambo. According to Rivera (2018). This is a place which has 7,257 square meters of surface distributed in eight squares, this park was conceived to commemorate the 200 years of the independence and to restitute the connection with the emblematic buildings to the south of the 26th street, has become one of the spaces of reconstruction of the center of the city where the main routes that cross it converge. First of all, the nature, the living areas, the richness of the architecture and the urban design. They allow the citizens to go there to escape from the noise of the city, a place for the enjoyment and enjoyment of the public space that adorns the capital landscape of the South American country, besides celebrating the first centenary of Independence. So, in this space you can share with your people and discover nature feeling the air, also to discover an incredible architecture.
Now that you discovered through the reading of this article those amazing places which have an incredible and richly architecture you can discover them personally as well. Those places have history, art, representation and culture of not only the city but the whole country. Besides, you won’t regret visiting the museums or the parks or the other places which are waiting for you. Finally, thanks to what you read you have more information about what those places are about, how they were created, why and what is behind them and their history. Then, Bogota is waiting to be visited and exalt its beautiful architecture.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Duque, K. (2011). Clásicos de Arquitectura: Torres del Parque / Rogelio Salmona. On Arch Daily. [Web Page]. Taken from: https://www.archdaily.co/co/02-118644/clasicos-dearquitectura-torres-del-parque-rogelio-salmona
Gamboa, D. (2013). Clásicos de Arquitectura: Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango / Germán Samper. On Arch Daily. [Web Page]. Taken from: https://www.archdaily.co/co/02280368/ad-classics-biblioteca-luis-angel-arango-german-samper
IDRD (n.d). Parque Tercer Milenio. On Instituto Distrital de Recreación y Deporte. [Web Page]. Taken from: https://www.idrd.gov.co/parque-tercer-milenio
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Nicogoo (2019). El museo del oro. On ColombiaCulture. [Post on a blog]. Taken from: https://www.colombiaculture.com/es/el-museo-del-oro/
Rivera, Y. (2018). Parque Bicentenario, un proyecto que ayuda a coser una herida urbana en Bogotá. On Arch Daily. [Web Page]. Taken from: https://www.archdaily.co/co/898371/parque-bicentenario-un-proyecto-que-ayuda-a-coseruna-herida-urbana-en-bogota
Sáenz, L. (2016). Clásicos de Arquitectura: Centro Cultural García Márquez / Rogelio Salmona. On Arch Daily. [Web Page]. Taken
from:https://www.archdaily.co/co/786448/clasicos-de-arquitectura-centro-cultural-garciamarquez-rogelio-salmona-rogelio-salmona
Scotiabank Colpatria. (n.d). Desde el Mirador de la Torre Colpatria Vista 360 de Bogotá. On Scotiabank Colpatria. [Web Page]. Taken from: https://www.scotiabankcolpatria.com/torrecolpatria#:~:text=Este%20ic%C3%B3nico%20rascacielos%20ubicado%20en,firma%20Obre g%C3%B3n%2C%20Valenzuela%20%26%20C%C3%ADa
Image 1: El Espectador. (2015). ONU premia a Colpatria por campaña contra lavado de activos y financiación del terrorismo. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/economia/onu-premia-a-colpatria-por-campanacontra-lavado-de-activos-y-financiacion-del-terrorismo/
IMAGES:
Image 2: Amaru, R. (2011). La Bella Biblioteca El Tintal. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/amarulero/5471054896/
Image 2.2: BIBLORED. (n.d). Biblioteca Pública El Tintal Manuel Zapata Olivella. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.biblored.gov.co/bibliotecas/biblioteca-tintal
Image 3: Duque, K. (2011). Clásicos de Arquitectura: Torres del Parque / Rogelio Salmona. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.archdaily.co/co/02-118644/clasicos-de-arquitectura-torresdel-parque-rogelio-salmona
Image 4: Baldo, P. (2016). Centro Cultural García Márquez: La poesía hecha arquitectura. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.clarin.com/arquitectura/centro-cultural-garcia-marquezarquitectura_0_S1SLI2_PQx.html
Image 5: National Museum of Colombia (2018). El Museo Nacional de Colombia. [Image]. Taken from: http://www.museonacional.gov.co/elmuseo/Paginas/default.aspx#:~:text=El%20Museo%20Nacional%20de%20Colombia%20fue %20creado%20en%201823%2C%20y,historia%20y%20el%20patrimonio%20nacional.
Image 6: El Espectador. (2020). Museo Nacional de Colombia vuelve a abrir sus puertas. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/cultura/reapertura-del-museonacional-de-colombia/
Image 7: Gamboa, D. (2013). Clásicos de Arquitectura: Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango / Germán Samper. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.archdaily.co/co/02-280368/ad-classicsbiblioteca-luis-angel-arango-german-samper
Image 8: IDRD. (2019). Los escenarios que hay en el parque Tercer Milenio tras renovación. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.eltiempo.com/bogota/parque-tercer-milenio-renovacion2019-426344 imagen parque
Image 9: Imaginario, A. (n.d). Biblioteca Pública Virgilio Barco. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.culturagenial.com/es/biblioteca-publica-virgilio-barco/
Image 9.2: BLIBLIORED. (n.d). Biblioteca Pública Virgilio Barco. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.biblored.gov.co/bibliotecas/biblioteca-virgilio
Image 10: Rivera, Y. (2018). Parque Bicentenario, un proyecto que ayuda a coser una herida urbana en Bogotá. [Image]. Taken from: https://www.archdaily.co/co/898371/parquebicentenario-un-proyecto-que-ayuda-a-coser-una-herida-urbana-en-bogota