Casa Terracota is one of the most extraordinary private buildings in Colombia — a house built entirely from clay, designed and constructed by the Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza over several decades. Every surface, wall, and structural element is terracotta; the building is, in effect, a single giant ceramic object. Mendoza called it "the largest piece of pottery in the world," which is not far from the truth.
The result is remarkable and somewhat dreamlike — arched doorways, curved walls, organic forms that look simultaneously medieval and entirely contemporary. The house is open for visits (admission charged) and is located a short walk from the Plaza Mayor. Even if you are not generally interested in architecture, this is worth 45 minutes of your time. Nothing else in Colombia looks quite like it.