Step back in time while overlooking the Tequendama Falls in Colombia

In 2013, the Casa Museo Tequendama opened its doors to the public with stunning new renovations and exhibits to highlight the histories of the home and region. Constructed in 1927 as a mansion overlooking the Tequendama Falls on the Bogotá River in Colombia, the building became an abandoned hotel for many years before it was transformed into a museum.

Carlos Bermúdez, business manager of Biteca, spoke with us about the 3D capture of this historically significant space and the inspiration this digital twin brings to local and international visitors.

What inspired the 3D capture of this space?

We wanted to make the beautiful Casa Museo Tequendama more visible to the public through 3D capture. It was originally a hotel built in the mid-1920s and has undergone several renovations over the years. The digital twin attracts visitors of every age, anywhere in the world to this national heritage museum. We hope it also inspires people to visit in person after seeing the great Tequendama Falls.

What are the “must-sees” you want visitors to explore and why?

The must-sees in this 3D capture are the period room, which is a representation of a room from 1927 with examples from that historical time including the way people dressed.

Another must-see is the viewpoint from the balconies — you can observe the Tequendama waterfall, which is more than 515 feet tall.

Similarly, users should make sure to walk up the stairs that take them to the viewpoint of the Tequendama waterfall. This passage evokes the initial construction of the house and the way stairs were built during that time. The 3D tour should send visitors back in time to learn about the way people used to live and travel. 

What additional benefits are realized with a Matterport digital twin of the museum?

There are many benefits. The reconstruction of the museum was sponsored by the government of France, so now those governments and agencies can observe the work and recovery that has been done — which will help these types of projects continue to be supported. In addition to being a historical document, this digital replica of the space tells the story of a building that must be preserved.

Do you have any plans to capture more 3D experiences?

Yes, we are working on the 3D captures of several libraries in Colombia — some of those libraries serve more than 5,000 people a day. We also plan to capture more museums in Bogotá.

We are very happy with Matterport's technology! It has helped us to show all of these spaces in Colombia to a whole new audience. In the same way, it has helped Biteca enter a new line of business where we have combined this technology with our software of libraries (GPS).