Colonial identity

IN CARTAGENA AN ARCHITECT AND A DESIGNER HAVE TRANSFORMED AN ANCIENT TOBACCO FACTORY INTO A HOME.

The Factoría de Tabaco of Cartagena, Colombia, was located here during the 17th century, a large colonial structure with warehouses and work areas on street level, offices and lodgings on the first and second floors. Across the centuries the place was split into three parts, for three different families. Utterly abandoned, it was purchased in 2003 by the designer Gustavo Pinto and the architect Sergio Castaño, who first made it into a boutique hotel and then into their own home as well. «We liked the high ceilings, the good ventilation, the location in the center of the city with a view of the cathedral», says Gustavo. «It was a ruin, but we could see its potential, so we worked on the restoration for two years, revealing the building’s colonial roots». Leaving the typical “cartagenera” structure around a central patio intact, the duo focused on the historical spirit of the place: white walls to underline volumes, stone, lime and wood, majolica floors. The furnishings match the mood: «We wanted Colombian identity, so we chose many pieces by the best artisans of the coast, mixing them with items found on our travels and some locally purchased antiques. The interior is simple, with fabrics in natural fibers, rattan, coconut, pineapple, jute, handmade mats», Pinto says. The cheerful local atmosphere also relies on shelving made with big wooden trays once used for sorting coffee beans, and chests on the walls of the entrance that once served to wash and transport foods. The central patio with its plants and pool provides natural cooling in the hot season.