Rogelio Salmona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rogelio Salmona
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| Born | April 28, 1929 |
| Died | October 3, 2007 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | French-Colombian |
| Alma mater | Universidad Nacional de Colombia |
| Occupation | architect |
Rogelio Salmona (born April 28, 1929 – died October 3, 2007) was a famous French-Colombian architect. He was known for using lots of red brick in his buildings. He also loved to use natural shapes like spirals, curves, and circles in his designs.
Later in his life, Salmona won many important awards. These included top prizes at the Colombian Architecture Biennials in 1986, 1988, and 1990. He also received the Alvar Aalto Medal in 2003. His buildings are great examples of Colombian architecture from the late 1900s.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Salmona was born in Paris, France. But he moved to Bogotá, Colombia, when he was very young. There, he went to the French Lyceum Louis Pasteur school. After finishing school, he started studying architecture at the National University of Colombia.
In 1947, a famous architect named Le Corbusier visited Colombia. He invited young Salmona to work with him in Paris. In 1948, Salmona stopped his studies in Colombia because of political problems. He then went back to Paris.
In France, Salmona worked as a designer for Le Corbusier for about ten years. He helped design big projects like the Marseilles block and the city plan for Chandigarh. Later, he studied how art connects with society. This helped him think differently about modern architecture.
After his long training, Salmona traveled to Spain. There, he discovered amazing Islamic architecture. The beautiful brickwork in Granada especially inspired his future work. When he returned to Colombia, Salmona finished his architecture degree in 1962.
His Amazing Career
Rogelio Salmona traveled a lot, which helped him develop his ideas about architecture. But he spent most of his life in Colombia. There, he designed many important buildings.
His first big project was the Torres del Parque (Park Towers) from 1964 to 1970. These were three apartment towers with a park in the middle of Bogotá. With their curved shapes and stepped balconies, many people think this is his best work. He even lived there for the rest of his life!
Other famous buildings he designed include the National University Human Sciences Postgraduate Centre (1995–2000). He also designed the Virgilio Barco Public Library (1999–2001), which is a landmark in Bogotá.
In the 1980s, Salmona helped organize meetings about architecture in Latin America. These meetings helped architects from different countries share ideas and learn from each other.
One special thing about his buildings was how he used water. He designed canals and pools that made water move and create shiny surfaces. He wanted people to notice how water flowed through his designs.
Rogelio Salmona passed away from cancer in Bogotá on October 3, 2007.
Public Buildings He Designed
- President's House for Important Guests, Cartagena (1978–1981)
- Bogotá Museum of Modern Art (MAMBO), Bogotá (1971–1988)
- National General Archives, Bogotá (1988–1992)
- Graduate School Building (Human Sciences) at the National University, Bogotá
- Quimbaya Museum, Armenia (1983–1986)
- FES (Superior Studies Foundation) Headquarters, Cali (1987–1990)
- Vice Presidential House (1994–2005)
- Virgilio Barco Public Library, Bogotá (1999–2001)
- Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center, Bogotá (2004–2008)
Private Buildings He Designed
- El Polo apartment complex, Bogotá (1959)
- The Headquarters of the Society of Colombian Architects, Bogotá (1961–1970)
- Del Parque Towers, Bogotá (1964–1970)
- Nueva Santa Fe housing complex and community center, Bogotá (1985–1994; 1994–1997)
- The Timiza apartment complex, Bogotá
- House of the Writer (for Gabriel García Márquez), Cartagena (1992–1995)
Projects Still Being Built
Rogelio Salmona and his wife, María Elvira Madriñán, worked on many future projects. Some of these buildings are still being built today.
- French Cultural Center (Alliance Française), Bogotá (opened in 2010)
- Valmaría Campus (National Pedagogic University), Bogotá
- University Cultural Center (University of Caldas), Manizales (first part finished in 2018)
- New part for the MAMBO (Modern Art Museum of Bogotá), Bogotá
Gallery of Works
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The Graduate School Building of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the National University campus in Bogotá
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The Environmental Axis along Jiménez Avenue in downtown Bogotá
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The FES Building in Cali
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The Virgilio Barco Public Library in Bogotá
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The Museo de Arte Moderno in downtown Bogotá
Awards He Won
- Colombian National Architecture Prize (1986, 1988, and 1990)
- Prince Claus Award (1998)
- Architect of the Americas Award (1999)
- Alvar Aalto Medal (2003)
- Manuel Tolsá Medal (2004)
- Honorary Fellow of The American Institute of Architects (2006)
- Orden de Boyacá (2006)
- Lápiz de Acero (2007)
A Special Tribute
On April 28, 2021, Google celebrated what would have been his 92nd birthday. They honored him with a special picture on their homepage called a Google Doodle.
See also
In Spanish: Rogelio Salmona para niños
