More Colombia Circa 1959

You have to love this.

What to wear: "The typical garment for Colombians of both sexes is the ruana, particularly appropriate for cold climates. Straw hats in different shapes, sizes and colours and generally used by the natives in warm climates."

Rainbow Nelson

This is Colombia Circa 1959

This marketing from the late 1950s is simply beautiful. If only we could go back to those wonderful days when the world was this simple and nobody had ever heard of Colombia.

"....tell your friends to come to Colombia. We are still relatively new to the outsider, yet we have rich, unforgettable experiences to offer to the traveller."

Rainbow Nelson

Mr Nice Name speaks to Julio Sanchez Cristo en la W

A much more pleasant radio experience than the last time I was stitched up post-Wallpaper article. Plus a little too much information regarding current visa hell.....oops.

To Mr Nice Name

I met Colombia's father of conceptual art Antonio Caro at Galeria Casas Riegner for the launch of his new book - Antes de Cuiaba - a collection of his first artistic works.

Here he is pictured in front of his most famous work, a new limited edition of his 1976 'flash' of genius - Colombia.

My signed copy of his book has the inscription: "To Mr Nice Name", which was nice.

Cute Colombian Kids

A cuddly little Adolf Hitler spotted a stone's throw from the Colombian president's palace in Bogota.

Power Surge

Credit where credit's due. Power Surge a collaboration by Stefan Ruiz and Rainbow Nelson looks at the green energy transforming Medellin from murder capital of the world into one of the most exciting architectural laboratories on the planet.

Read the full article in this month's Wallpaper*

Foto: Stefan Ruiz

HUO: Four Days and Four Hours in Colombia

Foto: Stefan Ruiz


'The Pope' of the art world was in Colombia long enough to get excited about the country's sizzling art scene.

Read my interview with him in the second Colombian installment in Wallpaper* this month.

Colombia gets Wallpapered

Colombia get's its first mention in this month's Wallpaper*

This is the first of three Wallpaper* features to celebrate Colombian creativity. If you are wondering what the building to the right is it is the entrance to Medellin's Jardin Botanico designed by Ana Elvira Velez and Lorenzo Castro.

Selected Works from VII BIAU - Mauricio Rocha

Angelo Bucci, Alvaro Siza and Solano Benitez amongst the favourites of Mexican architect, Mauricio Rocha.
"I am interested in their constructive strategies and the formation of the spine through these structures. Monolithic in size they are built with different materials but there is a heaviness in the material."


Casa en Ubatuba, Brazil

Sede Fundacion Ibere Camargo, Brazil

Casa LA, Paraguay

To see more about Rocha and his work
Taller de Arquitectura Mauricio Rocha

Selected Works from VII BIAU - Francisco Fanucci

More from the Brazilians in Medellin.

Francisco Fanucci of Brasil Arquitetura selects his three favourite selected works at the VII BIAU.


Escuela Nueva Esperanza, Ecuador

Colegio Escuela de Artes Plasticas, Oaxaca, Mexico

Centro de Tecnificacion de Actividades Fisico Deportivas, España

To see more about Fanucci and his work
Brasil Arquitetura

Selected Works from VII BIAU - Marcelo Ferraz

Three of the favourites from Marcelo Ferraz of Sao Paulo-based practice, Brasil Arquitetura.

In no particular order.....

Colegio Santo Domingo, Medellin, Colombia

Escuela Nueva Esperanza, Ecuador

Colegio Escuela de Artes Plasticas, Oaxaca, Mexico

To see more about Ferraz and his work
Brasil Arquitetura