architecture & design
Casa Rosada was originally built in the mid 18th century as a large residential home, its style typical of the colonial architecture that characterized Bogotá at the time. After the city wide riots of 1948, known as El Bogotazo, the house began to fall into ruin and disrepair. By the time we came along it was falling apart rendering it uninhabitable.
During the past two years Casa Rosada has undergone a complete restoration. Understanding the unique cultural and architectural heritage that the house possesses we set out to both preserve and renew.
The first thing we did was to salvage whatever we could. From the adobe walls to the wooden beams to the clay tiles on the roof, we fortified, polished and gave new life to the existing structure of the house. We have even made lamps out of the clay that came up in our digs and furniture out of the wood that was no longer structurally viable.
And yet, as we strengthened the old elements of the house, we also designed and built a new and modern structure to hold it all together. That is the magic of Casa Rosada. History and modernity in one breath. Two hundred year old wood and adobe structures standing side by side with modern concrete columns. It is a place where the past and the present graciously meet.
And that is just the architecture. Our interior design is also a world unto itself. At Casa Rosada we are both enamored by the surrounding beauty and culture of Bogotá and committed to working with and strengthening the local economy. That is why the vast majority of our furniture, from the beds, to the lamps, to the sofas and chairs were hand made by a variety of local carpenters and craftsmen. The art you will find in the apartments features Colombian and South American artists. At every point, Casa Rosada is a testament to the creativity of Colombian architecture, art, and design.
If you wish to learn more about the process of restoring this house we invite you to watch the short documentary below. We are working on the translation, but for now you can at least see the images of how the house transitioned from a ruin to the place you see today!
our rooms
