After the completion of its renewal, the Bartolomé Calvo Library in Cartagena will reopen its doors to the public on 6 December 2019. The works, which extended for a year, included the architectural and technical update of the building, the revitalization of the property's heritage values, and the adaptation of the spaces to allow for a better delivery of cultural services and to offer a satisfactory experience to end users.
Local Heritage Regains its Splendor!
The Bartolomé Calvo Library, a building constructed in the early 20th century in Republican style, is attributed to the German architect Nicolas Samer. Its facade is composed of a half-point central arch framed by two Tuscan order columns of great proportions finished with a cornice that supports a triangular pediment adorned with plant moldings.
Its interior highlights six stained glass windows located on the rear wall of the central nave. These elements, commissioned in 1982 to the Argentinian architect Oscar Di Chiara, take the muses of Greek mythology as reference, adapted to the color of the Colombian Caribbean, as follows:
- Urania: Muse of astronomy, symbolizes how much the people from Cartagena believe in their relationship with the cosmos.
- Terpsichore: Muse of dance, who dances cumbia with a candle in her hand.
- Euterpe: Muse of music, holding a millo flute, a popular musical instrument in the Caribbean.
- Melpomene: Muse of tragedy, leaning on a pillar with a mask that symbolizes tragedy.
- Erato: Muse of epic and lyric poetry. She is supported by two pillars, one showing a pan flute and the other a pictogram with warriors.
- Thalia: Muse of comedy, representing the suffering that Cartagena has endured.
Besides its integral renewal, the renovation of the Library incorporates contemporary architectural elements, while respecting the building's patrimonial characteristics. This has allowed to reconfigure its spatiality in order to achieve transformation and functional improvement of the reading rooms for children and general public, as well as the administrative and service areas in general. It is worth highlighting the adequacy of the reformations to allow accessibility and adequate care of children and population with disabilities.
Also, the updating and optimization of the building's technical systems was also carried out under sustainability parameters and considerations, implementing efficient resource management technologies.
Finally, the total renovation of the furniture, shelves, and consultation tables of the reading rooms provides greater comfort and functionality to all users.
A Cultural Epicenter in the Colombian Caribbean
In order to offer cultural activities to the department of Bolívar and to the entire Caribbean coast leveled with the best in the country, Banco de la República leads the total renewal of two of the most emblematic institutions in Cartagena: The Bartolomé Calvo Library, which reopened on December 6, and the Zenú Gold Museum, currently in progress.
Together with the Center for Regional Economic Studies and the BBC Alternate Room located in the Bank's main building near Bolívar Park, the Zenú Gold Museum and the Bartolomé Calvo Library have become two of the strongest Cultural Centers in the Bank's cultural network nationwide.
The Library also consolidates itself as one of the spaces for the development of the Central Bank's cultural work in the city. A sample of this is the project “Reading the Caribbean,” which, since its inception thirteen years ago, has become a reference in the promotion of the works and authors of Colombia’s Caribbean literature.
Thus, with the Library open once again, Cartageneros will continue to enjoy all the services and collections offered by Banco de la República, as well as a rich cultural programming with a vocation for history and research on topics related to the Colombian Caribbean.
The Bank continues to consolidate its cultural presence in this region, adding a further renewal to the list of cultural agencies and museums that it has renovated and strengthened in recent years, among them the Tairona Gold Museum in Santa Marta in 2013, the Cultural Center in San Andrés in 2016, the Zenú Gold Museum (currently in progress), and the Amira de la Rosa Theater in Barranquilla (currently in its preliminary phase of studies and design).
