More Than a Library: A Journey Through Beige Brick, Water, and Landscape
By Katia Perez Mendez
Experiencing the Architectural Language of Rogelio Salmona at the Virgilio Barco Library in Bogotá
Virgilio Barco Public Library, Bogotá, Colombia. Photograph by Katia Perez Mendez.
I recently visited the Virgilio Barco Library in Bogotá, Colombia and experienced Rogelio Salmona’s architectural language firsthand. For me, the library is much more than a place for books and research. It is a public landscape where architecture, nature, water, and people come together. You can read, work on your computer, look for a book, walk, sit, or simply enjoy the architecture and the surrounding landscape.
Salmona, a Colombian-French architect, left an important legacy in Colombian architecture, especially in Bogotá. His architecture can be understood and enjoyed not only by architects, but by everyone who visits his buildings. You do not need to know his name to feel that something is special about the space.
As I walked through the library, I noticed the warm beige brick, water paths and pools, curved lines, ramps, and geometric shapes. All these elements work together to guide people through the building and create movement, rhythm, and different views.
For me, it is not only a design within the space; it is a composition about the principles of design. Proportion, geometry, materials, light, water, landscape, and movement come together to create an architecture that you experience rather than simply observe.
The water adds another beautiful dimension. It reflects the sky, the beige brick, and the surrounding landscape, creating peaceful moments. The curves and ramps invite you to continue walking and discovering the architecture from different perspectives.
I also love how the library connects with Bogotá. Through its openings and windows, you can see people walking through Simón Bolívar Park, the Andes Mountains, and landmarks such as Monserrate and Guadalupe. The landscape becomes part of the architecture.
For me, Salmona’s warm beige brick, water, vegetation, light, and geometric forms create a strong sense of place. My visit reminded me that architecture is not only about what we see. It is also about what we feel as we walk through a space. At the Virgilio Barco Library, architecture becomes an experience and an important part of Bogotá’s identity.