{
  "id": 4887278,
  "title": "Bogota Heritage Apartment Scandal: Firm Faces Massive Fine After Demolishing Salmona Staircase",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/bogota-heritage-apartment-scandal-firm-faces-massive-fine-after",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T15:58:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/01/staircase-salmona-bogota/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Bogota architecture firm, Deconama Studio, is facing a potentially multimillion-peso fine after demolishing a staircase in an apartment designed by architect Rogelio Salmona without obtaining the necessary authorization. The apartment, part of the Altos de Santana residential complex, was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in 2010. According to Bogota's heritage regulations, any intervention that alters a protected property must be approved by the Instituto Distrital de Patrimonio Cultural (IDPC). In this case, the firm did not submit a request or obtain authorization before removing the protected staircase. The IDPC director stated that the owners and professionals involved could face fines ranging from 200 to 500 monthly minimum wages, while the responsible professionals could face fines between 400 and 1,000 monthly minimum wages. If found guilty, the apartment owner would have to pay between COP 350.2 million and 875.5 million, and the professionals responsible could face fines between COP 700.4 million and 1.75 billion. The authorities have also indicated that the altered elements must be restored, which could require rebuilding the staircase at the owners' expense. This case highlights the responsibilities that come with owning a property in a heritage building in Bogota, where the protected status extends beyond the exterior of the building and includes architectural organization, circulation spaces, and interiors.",
  "summary": "A Bogota architecture and interior design firm is facing a potentially multimillion-peso sanction after demolishing an original staircase inside an apartment designed by celebrated Colombian architect Rogelio Salmona — apparently without first checking that the property was protected as a Bien de Interes Cultural (BIC). The case has sparked a new debate over the limits […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Bogota firm Deconama Studio faces multimillion-peso fine",
    "Demolished Salmona staircase without authorization",
    "Potential fines up to COP 1.75 billion for owners"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}