Architecture

Architecture

In the Capital District, as in any big city in Latin America, an infrastructure is very varied ranging from the so-called informal settlements through the colonial architecture and contemporary constructions coming up. The urban morphology and typology of colonial buildings in Bogotá continued until even the late nineteenth century, long after the independence of Colombia (1810). The urban layout matched the implanted checkerboard Plano Indian laws since the mid-sixteenth century. This persistence of the colonial setting is visible, now part of La Candelaria, the historical center of Bogotá. Also until the late nineteenth century, remained the colonial houses of two stories up, with a central courtyard, gabled roofs, roof tiles and overhanging balconies. In some cases, these balconies were closed with glass during the Republican period, a distinguishing feature of the architecture of sectors. Colombia severed its links with Spain and looked elsewhere for new models, first England, then France, marking the beginning of what became known as Republican Architecture (Arquitectura republicana), an era that lasted well into the twentieth century, when the changes in architectural thinking in Europe brought Modern Architecture to the country during the last years before World War II.

But Bogota also has a modern and avant-garde architecture, which makes it one of the metropolis of Latin America, its preservation in a high visual and aesthetic consciousness having regard to environ makes these buildings attractive when coming Latin American countries.