In the high-altitude city of El Alto, Bolivia, a row of colorful, wave-like metal roofs in shades of blue, orange, red, and green momentarily draws attention away from the terrifying view below. This view is a sheer drop just centimeters from the houses, locally known as “suicide homes” due to the high risk their residents take, according to Reuters. These flimsy structures precariously perch on the edge of a cliff, with a near-vertical drop of hundreds of meters. Experts and local authorities attribute the homes’ instability to erosion, making them increasingly dangerous.
These unstable houses often serve as workplaces for Aymara shamans, known as yatiris, where they offer gifts to Pachamama, or Mother Earth. However, heavy rains and global warming are further undermining the foundations of these buildings.
Gabriel Peri, the El Alto municipality’s secretary for water, sewage, environmental management, and risk, insists that residents should leave, stating that force may be used if necessary. Yet, the yatiris remain resolute in their refusal to move, despite the narrow paths leading to the backs of their dilapidated homes, where the ground often gives way and swallows them up. Manuel Mamani, a yatri, vows to protect the land and redirect rainwater to prevent further erosion.
El Alto and the nearby high-altitude capital of La Paz often bewitch the mind with their vertical landscapes reflecting the surrounding Andes mountains. To help residents navigate this terrain, local authorities have constructed cable car lines. However, these landscapes are becoming increasingly treacherous as weather patterns become more extreme, a trend exacerbated by climate change.
Yatri Gabriel Lopez Chiva remains optimistic, believing that Pachamama will protect him. He suggests conducting a gift-giving ceremony to appease the Earth and stabilize the land, stating that such offerings are a form of payment that ensures the land’s stability.
Title: "Houses of the Dead in Bolivia под Threat of Collapse – A World Heritage Crisis"
The chaotic cityscape of La Paz, Bolivia, is home to a macabre sight: the "Houses of the Dead," a row of abandoned buildings eerily tilted as if leaning into their inevitable collapse. These structures, officially known as the "Casas Mataderas," have become a symbol of urban decay and a looming heritage crisis in one of South America’s poorest countries.
The Frightening Reveal
Built during the 1920s-1940s, these once-grand mansions served as the homes of La Paz’s elite. However, following Bolivia’s nationalization of tin mines in 1952 and the subsequent exodus of the wealthy, the houses were abandoned, left to decay in a state of neglect. The term "Casas Mataderas," or "Slaughterhouse Houses," was coined due to their proximity to the city’s former abattoir, but the name also reflects their grim fate.
Over time, subsidence, earthquakes, and lack of maintenance have taken a toll. Today, these once-proud houses are reduced to little more than facades, precariously perched on the edge of theinnferno. Some have been declared unsafe, and temporary supports have been erected to prevent them from tumbling into the streets below. Yet, these measures only offer a temporary respite, as the threat of collapse remains ever-present.
A World Heritage Concern
The casas lie within the historic center of La Paz, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. This designation recognizes the area’s architectural and cultural significance, with its colonial and republican-era buildings reflecting centuries of Bolivian history. However, the deterioration of the Houses of the Dead challenges this heritage status, as their loss would represent a significant erosion of the city’s built heritage.
UNESCO has been vocal in its concerns regarding the casas. In 2014, the agency placed La Paz on its list of World Heritage Sites under threat, citing the "deteriorating state of conservation of historic buildings" as a key factor. This international recognition of the problem has put pressure on Bolivian authorities to address the issue, but progress has been painstakingly slow.
Efforts to Reclaim Bolivia’s Built Heritage
In recent years, there have been isolated attempts to restore some of the Houses of the Dead. Several non-profit organizations and local initiatives have begun reviving the mansions, transforming them into art galleries, cultural centers, and community spaces. One such example is the Casa del.arbol, once a crumbling shell, now a vibrant hub for arts and culture.
However, these individual efforts can do little to address the systemic issues at play. The broader challenge lies in the political will and financial resources required for comprehensive restoration. The government lacks the budget to undertake such a monumental task, and private interests have largely ignored the area due to its dilapidated state and reputation for crime.
A Race Against Time
As the Houses of the Dead continue to teeter on the brink, time is running out. Every earthquake, every rainfall, every passing day draws these once-grand buildings one step closer to their inevitable end. The loss of these structures would not only mean the destruction of tangible history but also the erosion of a city’s identity and cultural memory.
The fate of the Houses of the Dead serves as a stark reminder that preserving history is not merely a question of aesthetics or sentimentality. It is a matter of recognizing and protecting the physical manifestations of our shared past, before they crumble into the dust of time. The world is watching, and waiting, for Bolivia to act before it’s too late.
