Immigrant Architecture

The famous El Espectador newspaper building on Jimenez Ave., formally named the Ed. Monserrate, was designed by Spanish arquitect Germán Tejero de la Torre, who immigranted to Colombia in 1939 fleeing Spain's civil war.

The Museo de Bogotá, on Carrera 4 and Calle 10 in La Candelariahas an exhibition on now about the contributions of immigrant architects, coinciding with another exhibit about immigrants in the nearby Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango.

The Ed. Monserrate resembles the Ed. Carrion in Madrid.

Spaniard Alfredo Rodriguez Ordaz, who immigrated to Colombia in 1939, designed both the Banco de la Republica and the fachade of Bogotá's Cathedral (added in the 1940s).

The fachade of the Cathedral of Bogotá and the Banco de la Republica.

The apartment building on the right on 11th St. in La Candelaria was designed by Victor Schmidt, who immigrated from Switzerland in 1939. His work combined colonial features and Swiss styles, according to the museum.

The building on the left was designed by Swiss immigrant Schmidt. Beside it is a concrete building lacking any character, in my eyes.

The Palacio San Francisco, designed by Gastón Lelarge, who immigrated from France in 1897, was the provincial capital building, but has sat vacant for years. It's supposed to be converted into a cultural center.

The Universidad de La Salle's building in La Candelaria was designed by Herbert Rauprich Jung, who fled Germany and immigrated to Colombia in 1936. The building may be handsome. But I've always thot that it clashes with the La Candelaria neighborhood's historical atmosphere.

Some notable buildings in central Bogotá:

The Calle del Sol apartments on Carrera 3. The building was first a cathedral and in the 1950s the secret police headquarters.

The Museo de Bogotá in La Candelaria. The building was the residence of the Virrey, the Spanish king's representative.

This building being renovated on Calle 10 is to be the new location of the Museo de Bogotá.

Check out these mushroom-like apartments on Carrera 4 in La Candelaria. I was told that they are the reason why the neighborhood did not receive UNESCO world heritage designation.

The Teatro Faenza, which is being restored by the Universidad Central. It's modeled after a theatre in Italy.

Las Torres del Parque behind the Plaza de Toros, designed by Rogelio Salmona.

Character-less buildings across from the Instituto de Desarrollo Urbano.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours