The iconic ESSO building (now the CAR Building), designed by New Yorker Douglas Lathrop alongside Martínez Cárdenas, and the Pan American building (now the Teusacá building) by Colombian architect Germán Samper—both located across from Bogotá's National Park—are included in the "CAR- Universidad Libre" Partial Urban Renewal Plan, which proposes their demolition.
The constant conflict between heritage preservation and urban renewal often sparks debate and disagreement, but it is precisely through this tension that modern cities acquire their livable value. According to the newspaper El Espectador, in response to this partial plan, more than 130 architects, professors, researchers, historians, and students mobilized to defend the preservation and revitalization of both modern architectural landmarks in the capital.
These academics joined forces to petition the Secretary of Culture, Recreation, and Sports, María Claudia López Sorzano, for provisional protection, as both buildings currently lack heritage safeguarding. On July 30, approval was granted to initiate the process for the Pan American building to be declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC). This designation would add it to the District's list of heritage candidates, protecting it from demolition—a procedure that is still in progress.
To facilitate this, citizens are empowered to participate in the legal process under Article 37 of Law 1437 of 2011. Accordingly, anyone interested in protecting the potential BIC is invited to register as an active party by submitting a formal statement of interest to the filing office of the District Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sports within 15 business days starting from July 23.
Should the designation of both buildings as BICs be approved, the partial renewal plan will not be canceled; instead, it must be adapted to integrate these iconic structures. Although they are currently in a state of disrepair, their inclusion in the project would significantly improve their condition, demonstrating that heritage preservation and urban renewal can go hand in hand to enhance the quality of city life.
This article was written by Santiago Baraya. The translation is powered by AI.
