Bolivian architect Freddy Mamani is aiming to imbue culture, colour and personality into the "monochrome" city of El Alto, through buildings based on ancient local architecture and craft.
The architect has strived to slowly transform El Alto with his colourful architecture, as seen in these photographs ? currently on display at Fondation Cartier in Paris.

He takes the geometric shapes found among the ruins ? which include depictions of condors, pumas and other natural forms ? and blends them into more figural organic designs that also reference elements like mountains, lightning, animals and flowers.
"All of these elements from Tiwanaku can be translated into symmetrical forms in contemporary architecture," Mamani said. "This architecture has its own language, its own culture, its own identity, and translates these ancient ideas into the contemporary city." Photograph by Mattia Polisena
Lighting adds to the effect, with 2,000 to 3,000 single coloured bulbs as well as five to seven large chandeliers used in each hall.
"We try to use colour to transmit joy to the occupants," said Mamani, who begins his design process with sketches, then works closely with artists to realise the results.
The craftspeople who work on his projects learn artisanal architectural moulding techniques from a young age. All the colours in the interiors are hand-painted with brushes.
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