Buildings in Medellin's downtown

rts & Culture ……………………………….…………………………………………….......................

Cultural Tourism Observation is an important principle of art. With my practice I have noticed that my students have changed their perception and points of view observing images.

This is my role: teaching about history and philosophy of arts, but the most important thing is to reply -how might arts change the perception of things and the surrounding reality?To explain the question, I will give you an example taken from my personal experience.

Recently, I have taught a class trip in Medellin’s downtown.

My students and I were visiting different places with a historical importance, searching resonances with several topics seen in my classes. The main idea was to compare pictures from the past, and to analyze them in real contrast with the present.

Buildings in Medellin’s downtown.

Past and Present

By Carolina Quintero Art History Teacher 17/Julio/2019

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Indeed, my students felt strange because the city has transformed a lot over time, and buildings show us this historical change.

hen I try to think about serious things, my suspicions are true. I finish rambling inside ideas between arts and life.

We have many examples of Art Deco Architecture in Medellin. But people do not know -what is Art Deco?-, and why Art Deco buildings were constructed in the downtown?-

My experience as art history teacher always made me learn something new, and I have connected concepts through thought, art and beyond them “the impact of art history in my life”

Art Deco was an international style that started in the decade of the 20s and finished in the 40s.

In parallel, Medellin was raising motivated by the industry and modern construction could not be the exception.

Local businessmen built a new city after the 20s. In that process, old houses disappeared and were replaced by vertical buildings that were considered icons of modernism in Medellin.

Those icons have been forgotten and some of them are in risk of being demolished since they do not have a historical meaning for us, or there are many economic and political interests behind them.

A cause of forgetting is to walk quickly in a dangerous and a chaotic downtown. Likely, people cannot stop to observe anything (No one likes stopping for that).

In other cases, visual pollution has covered interesting buildings with ugly advertisements or arbitrary reconstructions.

Retaking my class trip with my students, we were walking slowly and could see differences between two ages “past and present”.

We have recognized that our downtown has amazing things for appreciating, enjoying, and reviewing.

Photo

by El Colombiano Newspaper

Here is an inventory of places, buildings and avenues that perhaps you have never seen or visited: Have you ever seen the Victor building?

It was popularly known as “the building of the three heads”, placed on Boyacá Street nearby Veracruz’s Church, the oldest Catholic temple in Medellín (1682).

The building was constructed around the 30s. Its owners were “Mr. Felix de Bedout and Sons” an important family that encouraged the development of industry in Medellín. The Víctor building was designed by architects H.M Rodriguez and Sons, and the heads were made in concrete by sculptor Bernardo Vieco.

The building has fifth floors. On the first floor was situated a drugstore. On the second floor, its owners opened a music store, and the first radio of Medellín city known as RCA Víctor. Both stores were property of Bedout’s family.

The verticality, the straight lines of the building, and the male heads suggested characteristics of Art Deco architecture.

The heads were mysterious for people because they confused them with gargoyles in their function “to protect the building”. Other people believed that the heads were the representation of Bedout’s family sons.

Nowadays, you can see the building in bad conditions and abandoned. That building is empty and visual pollution covers it.

There are structures near “Victor” with similar characteristics and interesting stories.

The Henry building This building is located diagonal the Berrío Park metro station, on the corner of Boyacá Street and Bolívar Avenue. Henry building was built after 1925, and represented the concept of a skyscraper in our city. Its design was influenced by Chicago’s modern style, characterized by vertical lines and rich ornaments. The building has six floors, and it had the first elevator inaugurated in Medellín.

Now it is considered a small structure compared to contemporary constructions.

Its facade has beautiful ornaments and a big iron door that you would need to stop for admiring them.

As a curiosity, in the Henry building functioned the National City Bank of New York.

Culture’s Palace This building was projected in the 20s and constructed step by step between 1928 and 1970. The structure was opened in the 30s, which was never completed. There was located the first Antioquia’s government. In the past, it was known as Calibío’s Palace because it was built on Calibío Street. It was considered an architectural icon of Medellin designed by Belgium architect Agustín Goovaerts.

You can see different styles in the building: Neo-gothic, Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Culture’s Palace is pretty famous for its eclectic style, and it was erected and decorated with imported materials. On the top of the building, there is a dome and gargoyles.

In 1987 Calibío’s Palace was renamed as Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture. From the last date until now, it is a gallery and there are many cultural events.

Antioquia’s Museum What would you rather do: go the cinema or visit the Antioquia’s Museum?

If you are from Medellín, you will probably answer “go to the cinema”. But, foreigners would rather visit the Antioquia’s Museum.

It is located in front of Botero Plaza. The building was built by architects H.M Rodríguez and Sons, between 1932 and 1937.

The facade of the building is in Art Deco style and it was a good example and a formula of construction in our city. The building was restored around 2000.

On the third floor, you can appreciate many oeuvres made and donated by artist Fernando Botero. You can find pieces of art before the 20th century, and some works of this century belonging to other artists.

Astor “Tee Salon–Restaurant”

Nutibara Hotel Nutibara is a wonderful hotel near Antioquia’s Museum, Culture’s Palace, Botero Plaza and other tourist attractions. This structure completes the group of Art Deco buildings placed in the heart of Medellín. The hotel has an amazing history that tells us about a glorious past. The building was constructed after the 40’s and it was a synonymous of progressing and luxury. Its design was made by American architect Paul Williams, who was a famous designer of luxurious hotels as Beverly Hills and mansions of Hollywood, inspired by Chicago’s School.

Inside the building, there are some pieces of Art Deco furniture, which have been replaced for contemporary designs.

The history of Nutibara Hotel is just as important as Antioquia’s Museum.

If I were a foreigner, I would try to make a reservation in Nutibara Hotel for enjoying urban dynamics and cultural places around it.

Did your ancestors use to visit Astor? My grandparents and parents used to eat in Astor. In the present, adults and old people like to visit that place because it is a traditional Tee Salon. There is a great menu and a comfortable space inspired

by Art Deco style.

The Salon is placed on Junín Street, which has many attractions that you should see with more attention. Traditionally, people went out to “Juninear” as a way of leisure and to get fun.

Nowadays, local people and foreigners enjoy walking on Junín Street.

Astor has Swiss heritage because its first owners were from there. They opened the Tee Salon in 1930, and it became the most popular and famous eatery in that era.

If you are crazy about chocolate, you will find in the Astor the best and curious desserts that perhaps you have never tasted.

The sweet section smells delicious and salty foods taste and look terrific. Don’t they look amazing?

Well, the list of interesting places is long, but each one will be explained in another article.

Let us see some images from the past and the present in the photo gallery below:

The Henry building after its construction (Photography by RodrĂ­guez 1925).

The Henry building in the present ( credit: https://www.centrodemedellin.co/ArticulosView.aspx?id=296&type=A&idArt=297 ).

Veracruz’s Church (-past-).

Historical Archive of Antioquia.

Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture (Calibío’s Palace -past-).

Historical Archive of Antioquia.

Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture. Photo taken from Nutibara Hotel.

Gargoyles

Antioquia’s Museum (Municipal Palace -past-).

Historical Archive of Antioquia.

To the left: Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture To the right: Antioquia’s Museum

Astor Tee Salon in the past. Inside the Salon. (credit: centrodemedellin.co)

Astor Tee Salon in the present.

Inside the Salon. (credit: centrodemedellin.co)

Nutibara Hotel (-past-).

Historical Archive of Antioquia.

Nutibara Hotel. To the left, exterior of the building, architectural ornaments in Art Deco.

To the right, interior of the building, furniture in Art Deco style.

La playa Avenue (in the past) when it was still a small river “La Playa promenade�

La playa Avenue (in the past) when it was still a small river “La Playa promenade”, and Junín bridge.

Europa Hotel and Junin Theatre placed on the corner of JunĂ­n Street and La Playa Avenue.

This structure was inaugurated in 1924 and designed by Belgium architect AgustĂ­n Goovaerts, who was inspired by French style.

Then, the building was demolished and Coltejer building was constructed there in 1967.

Interesting links

https://www.centrodemedellin.co/ mapaCentro.aspx

https://patrimoniomedellin.gov.co /publicaciones/historias-callejeras/