Neo-Andean Architecture in The Highest City in the World

a lot of the interiors remind me of Super Mario 64 for some reason, I think it's all the pillars. Kind of like it but I think actually having to spend an entire day in it would be pretty taxing

Re: Neo-Andean Architecture in The Highest City in the World

#7

Post by edwcross » Thu, Nov 25, 2021, 9:42 PM UTC

The Cartier Foundation for contemporary art had an exhibit on "geometric art" from South America some time ago, and there remains a 7-minute video (in French only, but the automatically-translated subtitles seem fine) on Youtube about Freddy Mamani, the architect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0odbR7FOZpU

Very beautiful images from these buildings.

Re: Neo-Andean Architecture in The Highest City in the World

#8

Post by notahacker » Thu, Nov 25, 2021, 9:55 PM UTC

rocky1138 wrote: post #5

I can't decide whether I love it or hate it.

Context is everything in architecture. The rest of El Alto is unfinished, artless concrete and terracotta like the adjacent buildings in some of the photos, so it definitely lifts the neighbourhood, and the centre of nearby La Paz is dominated by concrete towers painted in similarly bright colours that just aren't as interesting. It's the graffiti of the architectural world, and sometimes the neighborhood feels more lively for it.

Not sure it would fit quite as easily in the historic centre of Sucre.

Re: Neo-Andean Architecture in The Highest City in the World

#9

Post by chrisco255 » Fri, Nov 26, 2021, 2:08 AM UTC

It's creative and original. I like the style and would love to see these buildings in person. And if it kicks off a movement in the city, all the better for it. There's too much cookie cutter construction in the world. This colorful style seems like it would be right at home next to St. Basil's cathedral.

Re: Neo-Andean Architecture in The Highest City in the World

#10

Post by clueless123 » Fri, Nov 26, 2021, 4:13 AM UTC

"His buildings are nicknamed cholets, a portmaneau of chalet (a Swiss mountain house) and cholo (derogatory slang for indigenous person)."

Just a small comment on the above paragraph from the article:

While in mexico the word "cholo" is used on a derogatory manner, in the andes (Peru and Bolivia) the word Cholo is used also as a pride term (like the N word can be used in the US) So people often claim "Cholo Power" for amazing endurance or Cholo Pink for a vivacious color on clothing or "100% Cholo" as a term of proud heritage.

In this particular case, I believe "Cholets" is used as a proud "originality" term.. but it certainly could be used as a demeaning term by the local equivalents of the infamous USA "Karen" type :)