14/11/2020
German Hernando Mosquera Palacio is one of the few who still has the technique and knowledge to make, reform and adapt buildings to the originality of the bareque or wall. In this photo, he is preparing the material that will support one of the walls of this house, which he is reforming in order to maintain its originality and preserve its structure for many more years.
Although he has children, none of his descendants has taken up the challenge of being the restorer, much less have they had the desire to learn these ancestral techniques, which saddens Don Germán because with him this knowledge will die.
The bahareque has been used throughout the centuries in Colombia for the construction of houses. Used in the first instance by indigenous groups, it was the primary choice of European or mestizo colonizers, who knew how to adapt it to environmental conditions, taking advantage of a diverse selection of native materials and techniques. Subsequently, many of the bahareque dwellings were replaced by adobe or tread wall techniques, although bahareque continued to be the technique of choice in places such as the coffee region, due to the high seismic threat in said region, where there is still use today. of bahareque on guadua or cañabrava canes.
Currently, the bahareque system is regulated in Colombia and Peru with technical standards for seismic-resistant design and construction, which have the character of national law.
Germán in our conversation expresses his desire to work in Santa Fe de Antioquia, where most of the houses maintain their original colonial structure, with wall and bareque.
If you have any reform, do not hesitate to call Don Germán, his telephone number is 57+3235039325