During the study visit to Bogotá, I discovered Rogelio Salmona’s architecture – as fascinating once I got to know it, as it had been obscure before the trip. There were many buildings of his that shared an intriguing quality of slowly revealing itself in space rather that disclos
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During the study visit to Bogotá, I discovered Rogelio Salmona’s architecture – as fascinating once I got to know it, as it had been obscure before the trip. There were many buildings of his that shared an intriguing quality of slowly revealing itself in space rather that disclosing everything they had to offer at once, but one in particular caught my attention - Edificio de Posgrados de Ciencias Humanas at the campus of Universidad Nacional. It looked pleasant yet rather inconspicuous at the entrance – a sculptured, multidimensional volume, characteristically Salmona-esque brick details, accentuated blue gutters, tall trees overshadowing the whole space. Once I entered, there was a big linear open space, from which I could catch a glimpse of the other ones to come – hidden behind open brickwork, there was a water pool in the atrium to the right; it seemed that there was another atrium to the left, some bits of it visible through the window, and also a long ramp leading upstairs. I started walking around and the spaces kept unfolding, constantly giving new points of view, changing the way I was moving in them (ramps, narrow corridors, circular atria). And then once I got to the rooftop, a whole new landscape opened up – the field of view became bigger, I could look around and see a whole variety of spaces, including the ones I have already been to, and the magnificent panorama of the city. There were people on every roof slope (many of which enjoying it as a slide), on every low wall, in the auditorium and under the pergolas – the view I could not have expected when entering the building.