Terracotta House


Not far from the Colombian capital is the colonial settlement of Villa de Leyva , famous for its unusual structure. It is a Terracotta House (Casa Terracota), a two-story clay building, which has an unusual shape and attracts the attention of tourists with its originality.

How was the Terracotta house built?

The construction was carried out by a Colombian architect named Octavio Mendoza (Octavio Mendoza). He built the house for himself and was based on 4 natural elements:

During his work, the architect used a single material - clay, which dried up in the sun and hardened. The architect used this rock of the earth because of its properties: pliability, fire resistance, accessibility and naturalness. It also has thermal properties, so there is always a comfortable temperature inside the building.

The main work on the Terracotta House was completed in October 2012. However, Octavio Mendoza constantly improves and completes the building. This is the project of his life, which helps to realize the creative abilities of the architect. He puts his whole soul here.

Building's facade

Terracotta house is a skilful construction, and the photos taken here resemble pictures from a fantastic film. The structure is characterized by a stunning design, and its area is 500 square meters. m. The two-storey structure is made in the form of a bright orange octopus, the "tentacle" of which can be seen from all sides.

The building has a rounded shape and is decorated with small domes. On the windows are fixed giant figures made of metal in the form of reptiles and insects. On the roof of the Terracotta House are installed solar panels, which provide the owners with hot water. In the courtyard there are clay sculptures and flowerpots with ornamental flowers that surround the structure from all sides. There is also a swimming pool, which coolly cools in the heat. The house has all the necessary communications.

Description of the interior

As an internal finish of the structure used burned red clay, which is called terracotta. From it were made:

Floors in the Terracotta house are connected by staircases, numerous rooms are separated by partitions. In the bathroom there is a jacuzzi, and she herself is decorated with a multicolored mosaic. Octavio Mendoza produces his fantastic products in the workshop. To enter into it to tourists it is forbidden, and the path is blocked by an iron robot.

Features of visit

Each guest of the Terracotta House feels an interest in an unusual structure, its colors and forms. The cost of admission is $ 3.5. During the tour you can look into all the rooms, lie on a clay bed and try to create your own product from clay under the supervision of the architect Octavio Mendoza. You can visit the landmark every day from 09:00 to 18:00.

How to get there?

From the capital of Colombia - Bogotá - you can reach the city ​​of Villa de Leyva by car on the road Bogotá - Tunja. The distance is 180 km.

From the center of the village to the Terracotta House, you can walk on the streets of Villa de Leyva - Altamira. On the road you will spend up to 20 minutes.