Neo-Andean Architecture and the Indigenous Subject in the Contemporary City

Abstract

Over the past decade, Neo-Andean architecture has become one of the most striking phenomena in the city of El Alto. Following the dissemination of Freddy Mamani’s works, studies on this architectural movement have intensified, particularly regarding the emergence of an expression that celebrates Andean iconography, visible on facades through intense colors, contrasting geometries, and a striking dialogue with folk crafts. However, more than an aesthetic manifestation, the Neo-Andean style constitutes a movement linked to the social transformations that have occurred since the 1950s, with the migration of indigenous peoples from the countryside to the city, especially those of Aymara ethnicity.

Thus, this study proposes a critical analysis of Neo-Andean architecture not only within its aesthetic scope but also based on the social dynamics of the city of El Alto, understanding these manifestations not as isolated cases but as part of the process of the formation of the indigenous subject in the contemporary city, from their arrival from the countryside to their potential economic ascent. It is thus demonstrated how the Neo-Andean style creates tension between the fields of identity and market logic, emerging as a symbolic language that articulates and problematizes notions of emancipation within the urban landscape of El Alto.