Colombia Transformed: Orlando Garcia, G-Ateliers Architecture

Follow the link on the left hand side of this page to watch this lecture online. Made possible in part through the City’s Initiative Grant Program of the Houston Arts Alliance.

Orlando Garcia graduated from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin Colombia with a bachelor of Architecture and Urbanism degree in 1999.  After collaborating with the Laboratory of Architecture and Urbanism of the same University along with former professor Felipe Uribe in the design and construction of the Pies Descalzos Park and EPM Interactive Museum, he traveled to the United States in 2001 where he worked for interior design and architecture firms until 2006 when he established his own architecture practice co-founding G Ateliers in New York City. In 2007 he opened an office in Medellin-Colombia.

He has participated in several competitions, built a number of projects in New York City and Medellin and has received several awards and honors including the Design award of excellence from SARA awards in New York and honorable mention in the Colombian Architecture Biennial among others. His most recent project is the Fernando Botero Library Park in Medellin. 

COLOMBIA: TRANSFORMED traces significant new projects that exemplify innovative architectural forms and spaces while serving as conduits for social inclusion. The curators have selected this collection of work to illustrate the current creative building energy in Colombia and celebrate the economic, political, and challenging conditions that have made these explorations possible.

These eleven recently completed projects by six of Colombia's top architects not only demonstrate the country's commitment to design, but also show how architecture can improve the lives of ordinary people. As a collection, these works--daycares, schools, libraries and community centers, parks, and sports facilities--reflect some of the significant social shifts that are happening in Latin America today. With these recent efforts, Colombia has shown that good design can lead to not just attractive public spaces, but also new identities for cities and their inhabitants. Now residents can be proud of their communities, which have transcended their reputations for crime and poverty to stand as examples of dignified urban centers and homes to architectural landmarks.

The projects are explored through photographs, slides, drawings, models, and film footage to celebrate how these buildings are appropriated by the public.

This event is free an open to the public. Reception sponsored by Gensler.

Made possible in part through the City’s Initiative Grant Program of the Houston Arts Alliance.