At first glance, it would appear as though the buildings designed in the cholets style stand out solely for their bright colours. However, if you delve deeper into this relatively new and localised school of architecture, a more nuanced rationale begins to emerge.
Before cholets took over its streets, the city of El Alto in Bolivia wore a dusty and grim look, a stance mirrored in the monotonous, unpainted brickwork of its buildings and even by its residents. The native Andeans, or Aymara, are a people who have endured centuries of socio-political marginalisation and are pejoratively referred to as “cholos”.
And then Freddy Mamani broke onto the scene. The Bolivian bricklayer-turned-civil engineer may not have a formal degree in architecture, but he is reverentially referred to as an architect. Because, for the first time in modern Bolivia’s history, Mamani’s structures celebrate the traditional culture of the country’s indigenous people by taking on a distinct and very deliberate Aymaran identity.
Mixing heritage with architecture
A neologism coined by combining the words chalet and chola (the colourful local garbs and the women who wear them), a home designed in the cholets style is distinguishable by the sheer frenzy of its vibrant colours, swirling patterns and symbolic iconography. The zigzag recesses, circular windows and geometric reliefs are all symbolic of the pantheon of the Aymara’s ancestral Incan gods.
The trapezoidal entrances, for example, are reminiscent of the Incan temple on nearby Isla del Sol, while the stair-step shape of the chakana cross appears in the designs of the windows, doors and chairs. The spiral stairways pay homage to the wind and storms that characterise the highlands in this part of the world; the curved lines signify water, a cherished and sacred commodity; and the pitched roofs call to mind the steep peaks of the Andes.
Cultural and topographical readings aside, the symbolism is often interpreted as deeply religious. One report compared the levels of the cholets as representative of the three realms that the Aymaras believes in: Alaxpacha, the world above; Akapacha, this world we inhabit; and Manqhapacha, the world below.
Mamani’s contribution to the cityscape coincides with the emergence of an Aymara bourgeoisie, who are both the landlords and end users of his cholets. The floor plan of the technicolour towers includes a ground level, typically used as a garage, store room or retail space; the main room, used as a hall for gatherings; a series of apartments for extended family or perhaps tenants, and a rooftop penthouse for the owners.
Decor-wise, the dancehall is most representative of the cholet's exterior: wall-to-wall mirrors reflect the kaleidoscopic colours of the floor and furniture; the lights are an outlandish mix of chandeliers and tear lamps, and the double-height ceilings are detailed with flowers, circles and other motifs. Like the apartments, the hall is often rented out for events, a sustainable financial cycle that helps owners pay off the loans for their cholets. More importantly, it dedicates a hitherto unavailable place for the Aymara to come together and celebrate their fiestas.
'Architecture is the fabric of human life'
The extravagant colours – swirls of gaudy greens, fiery oranges and blinding yellows – are homage to both the colourful local garbs, and the Andean people’s love for dancing – the city celebrates about 250 festivals annually. The shades themselves are steeped with meaning: yellow and red denote energy and the Sun god; violet stands for wisdom, and blue represents the concept of infinity. The contrasting hues, too, are deliberate: the Aymara are staunch believers in the symbiosis of opposites.
“The extraordinary vibrancy of Freddy Mamani’s work is bringing a new consciousness for the intrinsic heritage of Bolivia back to his society and community in El Alto,” says architect James Law, chief executive of James Law Cybertecture.
“For me, architecture is the fabric of human life, and how architecture expresses itself is in the weave of this fabric. When it’s woven with clear, strong and symbolic icons, through the design, colours and materials, the citizens immediately live enveloped by this fabric and are reminded of the core values of their society. Sometimes, architecture is a lens through which the focus and emphasis of a culture is intensely amalgamated.”
Drawing parallels between Mamani’s cholets and the UAE’s cityscape, Law says: “I feel the desert has become the symbolic architecture of the nation. From this sand, new urban areas have arisen, yet the sand continues to play its role in the background, in the materials of the architecture and in the consciousness of the population. [Similarly], by super-charging a design with hyper infusions of symbolism, [Mamani’s] buildings become a treasure box of collected icons of a culture that is deliberately communicated in an uber-realistic way. The overall effect is an elevation of the artistic status of a city and its heritage,” he explains.
'Proud to show the world who we really are'
Of course, El Alto is not the first city and Bolivia is not the first country to use paints and pattern in such an effective manner – Rio's rainbow favelas and Cape Town's colourful Bo-Kaap are other examples. And in each case, a link exists between an updated city and more optimistic, accepting and accepted citizens.
“The colourful cholets remind us that architecture is contextual. The homes wouldn’t be more than a kitschy surprise if they were built outside the Andean region, but in their original cultural context, they become a tool for the expression of people’s identity. [In addition to] the benefit of increasing tourism, to me the biggest strength of Mamani’s work is to send a new message, something like: ‘Hey, look, we have been marginalised for centuries, but now we are proud to show the world who we really are’,” says Philippe Grasset, founder of Grasset Interior Design and Architecture.
“Mamani’s work demonstrates how deeply architecture entangles with a people’s identity. It is a physical expression of the Andean indigenous re-birthing pride. After generations of struggle against an alien culture, they finally overcome the original shock: first revealed to the world with [Aymaran President] Evo Morales’s election in 2005, Bolivian indigenous identity now reshapes the urban landscape with its renewed style,” he says.
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The power of colour and its effect on us
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Dubai architect Lulie Fisher to design luxury villas in Zanzibar
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Although the first cholets were completed in 2015, they continue to draw regional and international attention. The striking facades – now numbering more than 100 – have attracted so many tourists to this hitherto sleepy town, that special routes have been mapped out for keen outsiders to visit and photograph the homes. Mamani has been the subject of a book by architectural historian Elisabetta Andreoli; a documentary that explores the connection between architecture and cultural identity, and an exhibition at London’s Architectural Association School of Architecture.
Last month, a fashion show celebrating Mamani's colourful creations brought Bolivian labels such as Beatriz Canedo Patiño and Liliana Castellanos and Maman Fine Art together to design outfits and artworks to match. He was also recently invited to promote his cholets at an exhibition being held at the Cartier Foundation in Paris next month, in a effort to promote the culture of Bolivia, its festivals, food and fashion.
Of course, Mamani’s mini-renaissance is not without its detractors, who hint that the Aymaran is academically unqualified and that his garish structures are an embarrassment to the cityscape. But for the most part, the cholets are being given a shout-out – by local and international voices alike – for encapsulating the spirit of the original Bolivian and giving it newfound respect within an urban setting. And this has led to Mamani being honoured with perhaps one of the greatest monikers of his chosen industry: the architect-activist.
Book%20Details
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adil%20El%20Arbi%20and%20Bilall%20Fallah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWill%20Smith%2C%20Martin%20Lawrence%2C%20Joe%20Pantoliano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
DAY%20ONE%20RESULT
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Read more about the coronavirus
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Kill%20
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In%20the%20Land%20of%20Saints%20and%20Sinners
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E25%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Ireland%20v%20UAE*%3Cbr%3E27%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Zimbabwe**%3Cbr%3E29%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Netherlands%20v%20UAE*%3Cbr%3E3%20May%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Vanuatu*%3Cbr%3E5%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3E7%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEsha%20Oza%20(captain)%2C%20Al%20Maseera%20Jahangir%2C%20Avanee%20Patel%2C%20Heena%20Hotchandani%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Mehak%20Thakur%2C%20Rinitha%20Rajith%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E*Zayed%20Cricket%20Stadium%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E**Tolerance%20Oval%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
