[LINK] "How indigenous wealth is changing Bolivian architecture"

[rfmcdonald]

At Al Jazeera, Michele Bertelli and Felix Lill describe, with abundant photos, the architecture of the homes of Bolivia's rising upper class, of indigenous cultural background. The usage of colour evokes South Africa's Cape, somehow.

From the fifth floor of El Alto's tallest building, the city looks like a flat red carpet, with thousands of low brick houses lining up towards the horizon.

Originally an indigenous slum built at 4,000 metres above sea level on the outskirts of La Paz, the country's administrative capital, El Alto has swollen over recent years as people have migrated from rural areas. The change is evident in its panorama, as unusual buildings have started to pierce the otherwise even red expanse.

"In 30 years, La Paz will become a suburb of El Alto," Freddy Mamani, 43, tells Al Jazeera as he observes the city's skyline.

Mamani is the architect behind many of these new "chalets", which with their irregular forms and playful windows stand out from their earth-coloured surroundings. "I want to give this city an identity," he says, "like an eternal exposition."

He quotes the local Aymara indigenous culture as his main source of inspiration: the circles, the Andean cross and the designs reminiscent of butterflies, snakes and frogs featured on the facades are taken from the ponchos usually worn in the High Andean plateau region.

"The Aymara culture has finally reclaimed its role in this country," he says.