Welcome Home Polia!

People often ask me "why did you decide to go into Architecture?", the answer is two-fold:  I survived several home improvement projects as a child, and I grew up in Nicaragua.

When one thinks of Nicaragua the usual thoughts are Somoza, Sandinistas, La Contra, Roberto Clemente (if you are a baseball fan and are old enough), and for some musically minded folks that quirky song that goes "Managua, Nicaragua donde yo me enamoré..." but I digress.  One usually doesn't associate great Architecture when thinking of Nicaragua, but I'm here to set the record straight:

Nicaragua is home to some of the most beautiful examples of Spanish Colonial Architecture that the Americas have (both in the classical and vernacular tradition), woven together to form a colorful tapestry of cities surrounded by luxurious tropical landscape and furiously hot volcanoes.

So here's to Nicaragua, my original source of inspiration:




Basílica Catedral de la Asunción, León Santiago de los Caballeros.  The most magnificent church building in Nicaragua, and arguably in all of Central America.  Viva León J#dido!

Aerial view of the city of Granada, La Gran Sultana, with her cathedral and lake in the background.



Rooftops of Granada, seen from the belltower of the Iglesia de la Merced.

Basilica de la Inmaculada Concepción.  El Viejo, Chinandega, where my grandfather grew up.

Another view of Granada.

Cathedral of San Rafael del Norte, Jinotega, cradle of so many fallen heroes...  

Customs House at San Juan del Sur, Rivas.  Witness to the California Gold Rush.

Finca San Juan de la Isla.  Isla de Ometepe.  A quiet, centenary retreat. 

Church of San Juan Bautista in San Juan del Sur, Rivas.  Spiritual guidance among the waves.

All images by Nadia Palacios Lauterbach unless noted otherwise.

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