Alejandro Echeverri Architecture, Urbanism, Environmental Projects, and Planning Date of birth

14 Pages·2015·0.17 MB·English

Alejandro Echeverri

Architecture, Urbanism, Environmental Projects, and Planning

Date of birth: 05/20/62 Nationality: Colombian Marital status: Married

• Alejandro Echeverri is an internationally architect and planner from Medellín, Colombia. He is
cofounder and Director of URBAM, the Center for Urban and Environmental Studies at EAFIT
University. His experience combines architectural, urban, environmental projects and planning. He
has also collaborated as professor, lecturer and juror for various international and national
architectural institutions. His work earned the National Architectural Award SCA in 1996, the National
Urban Planning Award SCA in 2008, the Pan-American Biennale Urban Design Award Quito 2008,
the Curry Stone Design Prize in 2009, the 10th Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design from
Harvard 2013, among others. In addition, as The General Manager of the EDU, Empresa de
Desarrollo Urbano (Institute for urban development of the municipality) from 2004 to 2005, and the
City's Director of Urban Projects for the Municipality of Medellín from 2005 to 2008, where he led the
conceptualization and implementation of Social Urbanism, Echeverri has played a crucial role in the
improvement of the city. With the support and partnership of the city’s mayor, Sergio Fajardo,
Echeverri established public works programs and initiated building a series of visually striking libraries,
schools, parks, and community centers in Medellín’s most impoverished areas. The works program
included urban integral projects that connect some of Medellín’s poorest and most isolated
neighborhoods to the rest of the city. Because of these efforts and his belief in the power of design,
Medellín is now considered a blueprint for the future of other cities in the developing world. In addition
to his work in Medellín, he also has a broad experience as a national and international consultant and
advisor of multidisciplinary teams for urban, environmental and social projects. He also has a wide
experience as an architect designing a variety of projects from his studio Alejandro Echeverri +
Valencia Architects, in themes such as housing, museums, innovation centers, public spaces, parks
etc. His intellectual production includes writing articles for magazines specializing in architecture and
urbanism, publishing of books and opinion articles in national newspapers.

EDUCATION

1998-2001 Doctoral Studies in Urbanism and Territorial Planning at ETSAB (Escola Tecnica Superior
de Arquitectura) - Barcelona, Spain.
Diploma in Advanced Studies in Urbanism and Territorial Planning at ETSAB - Barcelona,
Spain.

Research and study travel on the works of Architects Alvaro Siza Vieira and Rafael
1988-1989
Moneo, London, Spain and Portugal.

1982-1987 Architect and Urban Planner, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.

WORK EXPERIENCE
2009-2014 Co-founder and Director of URBAM, Center for Urban and Environmental Studies,
University of EAFIT Medellín, Colombia.
(Urban think tank) (www.eafit.edu.co/urbam)

• Created the masters program: Urban and Environmental Processes, university of
EAFIT, Medellin.

Main Consulting Projects, among others:
Director of PMI “Proyectos Municipales Integrales, para la region del Urabá,” (Holistic

Municipal Plans and Projects for the Uraba Region) for the Government of Antioquia.

2013- 2014.

Senior Regional Consultant for UN Habitat for the Strategic Development Plan Zapopan
2030, Guadalajara Mexico, from 2014.

EGM Expert Group Meeting Participant, Planning Denser Cities Program UN Habitat,
Guadalajara Mexico 2014.

Director of “Strategic Intervention for the Macro Project Rio Sur”, for the Government of

Medellín. 2014.

“Parque Entre Orillas y Renovacion Urbana del Nuevo Guayabal” (River Link Park and
the Urban Renovation of New Guayabal), for Government of Medellín and Cementos

Argos. 2013-2014.

Co-founded The initiative “Action Cities Network” that gathers practitioners, academics
and policy makers to work on complex urban issues, 2014.

Co-director of “Rehabitar la Montaña” (Shifting Ground), Estrategias y Procesos para un
hábitat sostenible en las laderas de Medellín, with the University of Hannover for the
Government of Medellín. 2012- 2014.

Active member of Informal Urbanism Hub of the UN Habitat University Initiative, from
2013.

Director of “Urabá, definition of strategic framework for its territorial development” for the

Government of Antioquia. 2012-2013.

Director of “Bio 2030, Plan Director para Medellin y el Valle de Aburra”. Master and
Strategic Plan for the Aburra Valley, for the Metropolitan Area Organization, 2010-2011.

2005-2008
Director of Urban Projects, Municipio de Medellín.

• Direction of strategy of Social Urbanism and definition of design standards: The PUIs

- Holistic Urban Projects- for the Comuna nor Oriental and Comuna 13, Main

Pedestrian Streets Plan, Strategic Urban Projects, among others. Direction and

Definition of urban intervention criteria of Medellín, during the administration of Mayor

Sergio Fajardo.

• Design of: Explora Park, Science and Technology Park, Paseo Carabobo, Paseo del

Poblado, Paseo 107, Plaza Exposiciones, among others.

2004-2005
Director of EDU, Empresa de Desarrollo Urbano (Urban Development institute)
Municipio de Medellín.

• Director of a number of Urban Strategic Projects and Definition of the management
structure for Projects such as the Library Parks, PUIs- Holistic Urban Projects,
Renovation Plan for the New North, El Poblado Plan, Downtown Plan, among others.

• Direction of the design and conception of the Bus Rapid Transit System of Medellín
Metroplus.

1992-2014 Office of Architecture and Urban Design. Echeverri Arquitectos, with the architect
Juan B. Echeverri (1990-1998), AE Arquitectos (2001-2012), Alejandro Echeverri +
Valencia Arquitectos, with the architect Guillermo Valencia (from 2013)
(www.alejandroecheverri-valencia.com) Works include, among others:

• CIAT, Agricultural Tropical Research Center, Palmira, Valle del Cauca 2014.
• Soccer Stadium of the City of Santa Marta, in partnership with Equipo de Mazzanti,
2014.
• Public Library of Santa Marta, in partnership with Equipo de Mazzanti, 2013, 2014.
• Park of Manzanares River, partnership with Equipo de Mazzanti, Santa Marta 2013.
• ARVI Park, information and administrative center, Santa Helena Antioquia, 2012
• House Pelaez, Sopetran Antioquia, 2012
• House Henao Giraldo, Envigado Antioquia, 2012
• Ruta N, Innovation Center of Medellin, 2011.
• House Campo Alegre, Rionegro Antioquia, 2010
• Tres Aguas Park, Caldas Antioquia 2009.
• “Ordenamiento de la Cuenca del Rio Aburrá, Zona de expansión urbana y Parque
Tres Aguas”, (Urban Design and park of the Río Aburrá,) Caldas, Antioquia 2006-
2007.
• Director “Identificación de predios y reordenamiento urbano para proyectos de
vivienda en el Municipio de Puerto Berrío”, (urban planning for housing projects for
Puerto Berrío Municipality), VIVA, Empresa de Vivienda de La Gobernación de
Antioquia (Antioquia’s Housing Governmental Agency). 2002
• Director of the “Hipótesis de Mejoramiento Integral para el Barrio Uribe en Armenia”
(Hypothesis for the holistic improvement for the Uribe Neighborhood in Armenia) as a
consecuence of an earthquake. The team was composed of architects from the
Universidad Pontificia Boliviariana in Medellín and the ETSAB in Barcelona, for the
FOREC National Government. 2000-2001

Awards and Recognitions

• 2014, Jury Audi Urban Future Initiative Award, Berlin, Germany.
• 2013 The Veronica Rudge Green Prize Award in Urban Design, With the Team of
EDU 2004-2008, Municipality of Medellin. Project. PUI Nor Oriental (Holistic Urban
Project Nor Oriental) GSD Harvard, Boston, USA.
• 2013 First Prize Lápiz de Acero of Architectural Design, Project: Ruta N, Medellin’s
Innovation Center. PIA13 Bogota. With Architect Emerson Marin.
• 2011 Environmental Responsibility, Gold Seal of Sustainable America in Sustainable
Design and Construction, Project: Ruta N, Medellin’s Innovation Center. With
architect Emerson Marin.
• 2009 Winner of the Curry Stone Design Prize. With Sergio Fajardo Mayor of Medellin.
Project: Medellin’s Urban Transformation.
• 2009 First Prize Lápiz de Acero Azul of Architectural Design. Project: Parque Explora
(Science and Technology Park Museum). PIA09 Bogota.
• 2008 National Urban Design Award by National Biennale of Architecture SCA,
Colombian Society of Architects. With the Team of EDU 2004-2008, Municipality of
Medellin. Project. PUI Nor Oriental (Holistic Urban Project Nor Oriental)
• 2008 Pan American Urban Design Award, Pan American Biennale, Quito Ecuador.
With the Team of EDU 2004-2008, Municipality of Medellin. Project. PUI Nor Oriental
(Holistic Urban Project Nor Oriental).
• 2006, First prize in the SCA National Competition “Ordenamiento de la Cuenca del
Rio Aburrá y Parque Tres Aguas”, (Urban Design of Aburra River and 3 Waters
Park), Colombian Society of Architects , Caldas, Colombia
• 2002 Jury for the National Biennale of Architecture SCA Colombian Society of
Architects, Colombia.
• 1996, National Architectural Design Award, by XV National Biennale of Architecture
SCA, Colombian Society of Architects. Project: Posada House. With Architect Juan B.
Echeverri.
• 1996, Honor Prize for Architectural Design, X Pan American Biennale of Architecture,
Quito, Ecuador. Project: Posada House. With Architect Juan B. Echeverri.
• 1996, First prize in the SCA Colombian Society of Architects National Competition,
"Plaza y Espacio Público de la manzana T” (Plaza and Public Space of Manzana T)
Cali, Colombia. With architects: Juan B. Echeverri y Ani Velez).
• Among others.

1993-2014 Teaching Experience

• 2014: Visting Professor at the W.A.V.E. 2014 Workshop at Università IUAV di
Venezia, in Venice, Italy.
• 2014, Visiting Professor in the Masters Program Urbanism and Territorial
Development of the Universidad del Norte, in Barranquilla, Colombia.
• 2014 - : Director and Professor of the Masters Program Urban and Environmental
Processes of Universidad EAFIT.
• 2014, Professor at EAFIT’s summer school in the extension program: Social
Urbanism in Medellín – urban and environmental processes.
• 2013, Professor at EAFIT’s summer school in the extension program: Seminar on
Social urbanism and public sector management. With TEC, Instituto Tecnologico de
Monterrey Mexico.
• 2012, Professor at EAFIT’s summer school in the extension program Medellín’s
experience.
• 2003, Visiting Professor of the Universidad de Los Andes of Bogotá for the
Cartagena Workshop interventions in historic downtowns and Holistic Improvement of
Marginal Neighborhoods
• 2002 -2003, Director of the Workshop for Research and Projects for the Northern
Neighborhoods of Medellín, at the Universidad Pontificia Boliviariana, in Medellin,
Colombia.
• 2001-2003 Director of the Research Groups in Architecture at the Architecture School
of Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.
• 2002, Director of the “International Workshop in Public Space and Urban Renovation”
at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia. .
• 1998- 1999 Visiting Professor for Urbanism I and II at the Urbanism Department at
Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona (ETSAB), Barcelona, Spain.
• 1993-1997. Professor at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín.

1996-2014 Conferences and Workshops

2014

Desarrollo Armónico con la Biodiversidad
November 20 – 21
Apartadó, Colombia
Invitation: Encuentro Internacional Urabá, Darién, Región Biodiversa, Goverment of
Antioquia.

Global Strategies for urban Development, To Hábitat III, Zapopan
October 30
Invitation: Goverment of Zapopan and UN-Habitat, Guadalajara Mexico.

Planning Denser Cities Programme, EGM Expert Group Meeting Participant, UN-
Habitat, Guadalajara Mexico 2014.

Landscape and Urbanism: Collaborative Strategies for an Urbanizing Planet.
October 17
Medellín, Colombia
Universidad EAFIT

Urbanismo Social en Medellín, desafíos al 2030: ¿Qué Podemos Aprender de una
ciudad líder en transformaciones urbanas? workshop and conference
October
Antofagasta, Chile
Invitation: CREO Antofagasta Foundation

Ecological Urbanism: Measure / Mobilize Panel
October 9 – 10
Santiago de Chile, Chile
Invitation: Graduate School of Design and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin
American Studies, Harvard University
Urbanismo Social en Medellín: Proyectos o Procesos?
October 9
Santiago de Chile, Chile
Invitation: Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile

Convención de Verano por el Derecho al Territorio
Urbanismo Social and Rehabitar la Montaña in Medellin
Agosto 4 – 15
CENEDET Goverment of Ecuador, Quito.

Workshop: No Concrete, Permeable Landscapes
In: W.A.V.E. 2014,
July Venice, Italy
Università IUAV di Venezia

Urabá, un Mar de Oportunidades
April 9
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: World Urban Forum, Un Habitat, Goverment of Antioquia.
Network Event

Park and Urban Renewall Process of Entre Orillas, PPP Model.
April 10
Medellín, Colombia
World Urban Forum: Transforming Cities
Invitation: Municipality of Medellin and Argos

Claves del Urbanismo Social y la gestión pública en Medellín
April 9
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: World Urban Forum – UN Habitat
Workshop

Rehabilitar la Montaña, Anticipation Strategies
April 11
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: World Urban Forum ,UN Habitat
With University of Hannover

2013

Urban Colloquium Series
Inescable Ecology: the civil society
February 14
New York, USA
Invitation: Parsons the New School of Design

New Cities Summit Sao Paulo 2013: The human city
Urban Security
June 4 – 6
Sao Paulo, Brasil
Urban Security – panel discussion
Invitation: New Cities Foundation

Seminario de Gestión Pública y urbanismo Social. Escuela de Verano.
June 10 – 15
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: Escuela de Verano, Universidad EAFIT and TEC Instituto Tecnológico de
Monterrey

Escuela de Verano: Urbanismo Social en Medellín
June 24 – 28
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: Escuela de Verano, Universidad EAFIT

Tercer Seminario Urbanismo Internacional
Aprendizajes y Retos en la transformación de Medellín
August 14 – 16
Cartagena, Colombia
Invitation: Universidad San Buenaventura

Arq.futuro
Recovery and Integration: the case of Medellín
September 23 – 24
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Invitation: ARQ Futuro and Ministerio de Cultura, Gobierno Federal de Brasil

XXXIII X Congreso Colombiano de Arquitectura: “Construir territorio: el reto de las
ciudades intermedias”
Lecciones y Retos de Medellín al 2030
October 7 – 9
Cartagena, Colombia
Invitation: XXXIII Congreso Colombiano de Arquitectura

Cities in Spaces, Conflicts and Agency Development, Interdisciplinary Debates on
Development and Cultures
Social Urbanism: Cases from Ghana and Colombia
November 12
Leuven, Belgium
Invitation: CADES, Master of Cultures and Development Students, Ku Leuven University
Urban Age City Transformations Conference
Progressive Planning: Medellín’s Social urbanism
October 23 – 25
Río de Janeiro, Brasil
Invitation: Urban Age, London School of Economics

Transformative Urban Regeneration: Connecting the Dots between well being,
social entrepreneurship and design
Transformative Urban Regeneration
November 6 – 8
Johannesburg, South Africa
Invitation: ACC African Center for Cities and Government of Ekurhuleni

Symposium Metropolis Nonformal – Anticipation
Managing Informal Growth in the Hills of Medellín
Launch the UN – Habitat Hub on Informal Urbanism
November 20 – 23
Munich, Germany
Invitation: Technical University of Munich – UN Habitat

2012

Urban Design Conference: Condition and Projections
Strategic Upgrading: Conference and Dialogue with Damon Rich, moderated by Rahul
Menhotra
February 3 – 4
Boston, USA
Invitation: GSD, Harvard University

Colombia at Columbia – Innovations in Architecture and Urbanism
Urban Process in Medellín: The Present and some ideas for the future
February 10
New York, USA
Invitation: Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia
University

TEDx Talk Medellín
Social Urbanism Medellín
April 2
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: TED Ideas Worth Spreading

La ciudad sostenible: ecosistema en vía de construcción, Colombia hacia la
cumbre Río+20.
Plan Bio 2030 para Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá
May 16
Bogotá
Invitation: Consejo Colombiano de Construcción Sostenible, CCCS.

Congreso de Economía Verde
Planeación Estratégica del Territorio: Plan Bio 2030 para Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá
May 23 – 24
Bogotá
Invitation: Environmental and Sustainable Development Ministry of Colombia

Foro Urbano Regional, Retos y Oportunidades para las Laderas y el Cinturón
Verde.
June 6
Medellín, Colombia
Universidad EAFIT

Dialogues and Debates on a sustainable Urban Future, Rio+20.
Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Urban Development – North and South
June 19 – 22
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Invitation: AFD Agence Francaise de development

Emerging Models of Planning Practices Seminar – Aga Khan Award for
Architecture International Award Seminar
Social Urbanism in Medellín, process and projects
July 10 – 20
Singapore, Singapore
Invitation: National University of Singapore and The Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Espacio Público y Cultura en Acción. V Jornadas Internacionales de Ciudades
Creativas
Urbanismo y Acción Social en Medellín
October 2 – 6
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: Fundación Kreanta and Government of Medellin.

Bordes en Alerta, IFLA Conferencia Regional de las Américas
Bio 2030, hacia donde va el Valle de Aburrá
October 17 – 20
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: Sociedad Colombiana de Arquitectos Paisajistas (SAP) / IFLA

Cátedra Fullbright Regiones: EAFIT 2012. Ambientes Urbanos: Ciudades en
Cambio, Paisajes en Transformación
Definición de Criterios de actuación estratégica para el desarrollo territorial de Urabá
October 25 – 26
Medellín, Colombia
Invitation: Universidad EAFIT and Fullbright

Líderes Académicos conferencia magistral
El Proyecto Urbano para la zona norte de Medellín
November 7 – 11
Guadalajara, Mexico
Invitation: Departamento de Arquitectura, Escuela de Arquitectura, Universidad
Guadalajara

Design like you give a damn: LIVE
Neighborhood security and violence prevention in the built environment
November 12 – 13
San Francisco, USA
Invitation: Architecture for Humanity

Lecture Series UnLimited Means
Alejandro Echeverri Architecture, makers of Space
November 14
Seattle, USA
Invitation: Space City Foundation

Program in Latin American Studies, Princeton University
Urbanism as a means of social transformation
November 19
New York, USA
Invitation: Program in Latin America Studies, Princeton University

Agenda for Sustainable Asian Cities and Regions
Emerging Issues: Mobility and Lifestyle, Space Culture and Regeneration, and Bogotá /
Medellín
November 30
Tokyo, Japan
Invitation: CSUR Center for Sustainable Urban Regeneration, University of Tokyo

2011

Equity Summit 2011: Healthy Communities, Strong Regions, A Prosperous
America.
November 8th through 11th, 2011.
Detroit, USA-
Invitation: Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink

Design for the Nonformal Metropolis. Landscape, Shelter and Infrastructure in
Cities of the Global South
Transportation, Education and Public Space in Medellín.