Casa Terracota, Architectural attraction in Villa de Leyva, Colombia.
Casa Terracota is a residential building constructed entirely from clay and ceramic materials, featuring organic curves and irregular shapes that create a striking terracotta-colored structure spanning several thousand square feet.
Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza Morales began construction in the early 2000s, spending several years molding each clay component by hand to revive ancient building techniques with modern ecological principles.
The building serves as an educational center promoting sustainable architecture through workshops and guided tours that demonstrate traditional clay construction methods passed down through generations in the Colombian highlands.
The site opens Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 AM to 4:50 PM and Monday from 10:00 AM to 4:50 PM, located about 10 minutes by car from Villa de Leyva's historic center.
The clay walls naturally regulate interior temperature year-round without artificial heating or cooling systems, maintaining comfortable conditions while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact throughout the building.
Location: Villa de Leyva
Address: Vereda Monquira, Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Opening Hours: Monday 10:00-16:50; Tuesday-Sunday 09:30-16:50
Phone: +573242590225
Website: http://casaterracota.com
GPS coordinates: 5.63480,-73.53654
Latest update: December 1, 2025 10:44
Architecture does not have to follow straight lines and right angles. This collection presents buildings that stand out through their form: domes, spirals, tilted facades or organic structures that recall animals or plants. From Gaudí's mosaic covered works in Barcelona to the stacked concrete cubes of Habitat 67 in Montreal or the conical trulli of Alberobello, these structures demonstrate alternative approaches to construction. Some emerged from technical necessity, such as the temporary cardboard cathedral in Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake. Others are artistic statements: the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao with its titanium plates, the Dancing House in Prague or the cubist houses in Rotterdam. In Đà Lạt, the Crazy House transforms tree trunks and caves into habitable spaces, while the Atomium in Brussels represents a magnified iron crystal. These structures attract visitors but also raise questions about function and livability. The Longaberger Basket Building in Ohio takes the form of a seven story basket. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi uses concrete shells to form 27 petals. The Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi resembles a circular coin. These buildings expand the definition of what architecture can be.
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