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Chola Architecture: A New Andean Phenomenon
In the cities of La Paz and El Alto, buildings are being constructed with a new style of architecture called "Chola," featuring "chalets" in the penthouse and interior decoration called "Cohetillo."
By: Ayllon Bueno, Marco A.
Nautilus News, Nov 6, 2012.
In recent years, a distinct architectural phenomenon known as "Chola Architecture" has emerged in Bolivia's major urban centers, primarily in El Alto and various neighborhoods of La Paz. These multi-story structures—typically rising four to five floors or higher—are characterized by a unique structural layout: vibrant commercial spaces occupy the ground floors, while luxurious, modern chalets function as penthouses on the rooftops.
The owners of these buildings spare no expense, utilizing premium materials to signal their socioeconomic success. External features frequently include "Ray-Ban" tinted glass facades and imported US roof shingles, while interiors boast exotic Amazonian hardwood flooring. The intricate moldings on the walls, ceilings, and windows reflect a hybrid of Victorian elegance and contemporary design. This opulent internal aesthetic has been given rise to a sub-style termed "Cohetillo" (little rocket)—a celebratory display defined by multi-colored lighting, mirrors, and whimsical motifs. Reflecting this material luxury, property values range from US$280,000 to over US$1.5 million.
From an architectural standpoint, the style represents a collaborative fusion of contemporary modernism and traditional Aymara culture, designed by a mix of skilled master masons, technicians, architects, and the property owners themselves. Financially and socially, these buildings serve three distinct functions:
- Commercial Viability: They operate as mixed-use urban hubs, housing restaurants, educational institutions, entertainment venues, and micro-enterprise workshops alongside residential apartments. According to architect Randolph Cárdenas, maximizing ground-floor commercial space is vital to funding the ongoing construction.
- Intergenerational Wealth: Many structures feature a fully finished ground floor and rooftop chalet, separated by intermediate floors consisting only of bare concrete slabs and columns. These hollow levels are intentionally left incomplete for the owners' children to develop upon inheriting them.
- Social Prestige: Owners actively participate in designing their facades, fiercely competing with neighbors to display the most original and sumptuous structures—sometimes inspired by mansions seen in international media—to elevate their community status.
Gastón Gallardo, director of the Postgraduate Program at the Faculty of Architecture at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, notes that this rooftop-chalet design is globally unique. While the style originated in El Alto, it has spread to other Bolivian cities and is projected to appear internationally within Bolivian immigrant communities in Spain, Brazil, the United States, and Argentina. #MAAB
