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All Colombia Villa de Leyva Casa Terracota
AO Edited

Casa Terracota

This whimsical home made entirely from clay is basically a giant piece of pottery.

Villa de Leyva, Colombia

Added By
Andres Carrillo
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The architect calls the house the “world’s largest piece of pottery.”   Mirek1967/Deposit Photos
The architect calls the house the “world’s largest piece of pottery.”   Mirek1967/Deposit Photos
Casa Terracota.   mig rod
Fully functioning bathroom!   GaboT
A house made of baked clay.   Rosalba Tarazona
A peek inside.   Rosalba Tarazona
The bathroom.   Albert Chau
Inside the clay house.   Albert Chau
The two-story house is completely safe to explore.   Albert Chau
Inside the strange house.   Albert Chau
Inside.   Albert Chau
A clay bedroom.   Albert Chau
Tourists on the roof   movesbrit / Atlas Obscura User
Kitchen   movesbrit / Atlas Obscura User
Garden   movesbrit / Atlas Obscura User
Outdoor Kitchen   movesbrit / Atlas Obscura User
Casa Terracota interior   EcoArts / Atlas Obscura User
Casa Terracota   EcoArts / Atlas Obscura User
The baked house.   amontero89
Casa Terracota.   Erle Gueguen
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About

A blend of architecture and art, Casa Terracota is an unusual, fantastical-looking cottage that lets visitors imagine what it would be like to live inside a giant piece of artisanal pottery.

Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza sculpted the 5,400-square-foot abode entirely from clay, using no other materials to support the two-story structure. He then let it bake and harden in the sun, which transformed the pliable clay into solid, sturdy ceramic. He refers to the home as the biggest piece of pottery in the world.

The shape of the house also reflects Mendoza’s natural approach to architecture. The walls slope and curve much like how the surrounding hills roll toward the horizon. The inside is airy and welcoming, with colorful tile mosaics adding vibrant pops of color to the baked, earthy walls.

Downstairs there are several rooms, a full working kitchen, and a dining room.  Several bedrooms and bathrooms, one of which is hidden and holds a raised bed perfect for kids. Upstairs there is a master suite and additional lounging areas, along with access to the upstairs patio. All the furniture is made out of clay, with no exceptions.

Related Tags

Houses Clay Architectural Oddities Architecture Places To Stay Homes

Know Before You Go

Casa Terracota can be reached in 10 minutes by car or 30 minutes on foot from the Plaza Central. Take the road that heads to Santa Sofia, pass a soccer field, and after a small bridge, take a small unpaved road to the right. Travel roughly three minutes and you'll see Casa Terracota on the right side of the road.

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Community Contributors

Added By

pipeafcr

Edited By

movesbrit, Kerry Wolfe, EcoArts

  • movesbrit
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • EcoArts

Published

March 15, 2018

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Sources
  • http://www.colombia.travel/en/where-to-go/andean/villa-de-leyva/activities/terracotta-house
  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/Casa+Terracota/@5.6347936,-73.5366923,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x17b945f196a031e9!8m2!3d5.6347936!4d-73.5366923
  • http://www.odditycentral.com/architecture/colombias-flintstone-house-is-made-entirely-from-baked-clay.html
  • https://cfileonline.org/architecture-casa-terracota-columbia-octavio-mendoza/
  • https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/flintstones-house-made-entirely-clay-attracts-visitors-n37706
  • https://ohdeardreablog.com/2017/10/casa-terracota.html
  • http://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/11/casa-terracota-clay-house.html
  • http://curious-places.blogspot.com/2014/02/casa-terracota-villa-de-leyva-colombia.html
  • http://www.casaterracota.com/web/index.php/en/
  • https://britonthemove.com/villa-de-leyva-casa-terracota/
Casa Terracota
Villa de Leyva
Colombia
5.634794, -73.536692
Visit Website

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Photo of Villa de Leyva

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