Martha Isabel
Portfolio
“Architects can’t keep acting preters of the context and its
acting as the sole interits people”
I’m Martha, an colombian architect from,with MSc. studies in sustainable architecture and landscape design. All my experience locally and abroad, has led me to think that well-developed architecture must be sensitive and adaptative, allowing us to transform -in a responsable way- environments that contribute to the improvement of habitats of all existing forms of life.
I graduated with honors from both my degrees as and evidence of my passion about research methodology to achieve inclusive and holistic design. My path in architecture always involve learning from all types of knowledges, disciplines and experiences. I am conviced that architecture practice allow knowledge and creativity exchange, where I can contribute with my skills and experience while continuing my learning journey from working challenging projects and meeting outstanding colleagues.
Sustainable architecture and Landscape design, Public space design, participative design and urban research
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Deutsche playground area
Landscape and playground area design
Professional works 2020-2024 About
Puerto Colombia,Colombia
Agrotouristic La Canova
Landscape design
Castel San Giovanni, Italy
Sequential revelation
Landscape design
Piacenza,Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Barceloop
Urban and Landscape design Barcelona, Spain
Model-making
Modelmaking experimentation
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Puerto Colombia, Colombia
Urban co-creation lab
Public Space Interventions
Universidad del Norte & UN habitat
Villas del Mar, Colombia
Masters works 2018-2021
Co-creation & technologies 2021-2024
M A R T H A I S A B E L C A S T I L L A R I A S C O
Phone: +39 3392914494
Mail: Marthacastillar@gmail.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martha-isabel-castilla-riasco
Current address: Calle 64#47-74 Barranquilla, Colombia.
MS. SC. Sustainable Architecture & Landscape Design
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Final GPA: 110 e Lode/110
Special Topics in Environmental Design
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Summer School Markets in the tropics
Universidad del Norte, Colombia ETH University, Zurich
Workshop Mexico Design NET
Universidad del Norte, Colombia
Mexico Design NET, Mexico
2011
Tutoring, Pedagogy course
CREE, Universidad del Norte, Colombia
B.S. Architecture
Universidad del Norte, Colombia
Final GPA: 4,47/5
A C A D E M I A W O R K
2023
October
2023
October
2022
On-going
“Building more inclusive cities in LATAM and the Caribbean and other international experiencies” Urban October Webinar
Ciudades Incluyentes, Comnidades Solidarias, CICS
ONU-Habitat, OIM, ACNUR
Lecturer: Co-creation experiences, COL
XXXVIII Architecture and Urbanism
National Congress “Social Architecture”
Lecturer: Urban co-creation lab for territorial integration first implementation results, COL
Urban co-creation laboratory for habitat and territorial integration
Ciudades Incluyentes, Comnidades Solidarias, CICS
ONU-Habitat, OIM, ACNUR, Universidad del Norte
Co-designer
“Solutions and action plans to improve water services accesibility in public spaces” workshop
InterAmerican development bank (BID)
Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) Academy representative, Universidad del Norte
2022
June-August
“The future of Creative Cities” workshop
Universidad del Rosario, COL
Leibniz Universitat Hannover, DEU
Academy representative, Universidad del Norte
2022
2024 (July-August)
2021
2022 (July-On going)
2021 2022 (SeptemberOn going)
2020 2021 (October-April)
Landscape architect
Project design, management and execution Projects: Landscape Aguilera+Baquero house, COL Plazoleta de la vida, COL
Professor & Researcher
Courses: Design Studio II, Urban design studio I: Water, Landscape and Territory History VII and Theory: XX-XXI Century Project: Urban co-creation lab for territorial integration
Escenarios Deportivos BEMOV, Colombia Projects: Deustche school playground area, COL Necoclí linear park,COL Las Flores complex, GT Cycling infrastructure Cartagena, COL Urban and Public space designer
Intern Architect
Orange Architects, Netherlands Projects: Parkstad Blok-I,Rotterdam, NL Living Landscapes, Moscow, RSS.
Architect 2020 (FebruarySeptember)
Studio ODDI Archh Associati, Italy Project: Scuola & Ostello Trevozzo, Italy. Healthcare Center Galli, Italy Agro-touristic complex La Canova, Italy.
2020 (February Internship)
2015 2018 2015 (FebruaryAugust)
2014 2015 (OctoberFebruary)
2012
Urban Research Assistant, DASTU
Architecture and Urban Studies department, Polimi,Italy. Rural areas mapping and information collection along Comune di Piacenza for requalificaion and regeneration territorial proposals.
Product Integration Professional
ESWindows Energía Solar, Colombia Projects: CUSON, School of Nursey, USA Art place, exhibition space, USA; Serena del Mar Complex, Colombia
Junior Designer
Eduardo Moreno Torres Architects, Colombia Projects: BAQ, Colombia: House Complex Jardines de Riomar (Contest’s winner design)
Desing Assistant
Ol+Eb Architecture and Interior Design, Colombia Projects: Interiorism Romero-Molina house. Landscape design UAU EDUBAR-Bavaria.
Research Assistant
School of Arch., Urbanism and Design, UNorte, Colombia Analysis and production of guidance document for the mobility chapter proposed for the city of Barranquilla’s development plan 2012-2032.
Masters degree MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Politecnico di Milano, Italy, 2021 Masters degree with honors.
Erasmus Traineeship program Scholarship
Politecnico di Milano, Italy, 2020 Grant for traineeship abroad.
Master in Science studies-Gold Scholarship
Politecnico di Milano, Italy, 2018 Full-scholarship grant.
Winner design: Housing complex + urbanism
Eduardo Moreno Architects, Colombia, 2015 Jardines de Riomar project, urban and architectural design.
Silver medal, recognition of academic excelence
Universidad del Norte, Colombia, 2015 Top of the class
Founder member Students group-CEARQ
Universidad del Norte, Colombia, 2015 Co-founder and vice-president of Architecture students group.
B.S Architecture Scholarship
Universidad del Norte, Colombia, 2010. “Construye el espacio de tus sueños” .
P U B L I C A T I O N S
“Experiential learning of Architecture in Contemporary contexts: Pedagogical Approaches in Technological and Collaborative Environments”
Authors: Martha Castilla Riasco
Language: Spanish
Publication place:
ACFA Colombian Association of Architecture Faculties’ book entitled “Significant Research Experiences in Colombia” Date of publication: January 24th, 2024
“Urban co-creation laboratory for habitat and territorial integration: A guide of good practices and lessons learned from the pilot implementation”
Authors: Martha Castilla Riasco, Andrés Roldán Restrepo
Language: Spanish
Publication place:
ONU-Hábitat “Ciudades Incluyentes, Comunidades Solidarias” CICS program and webpage: https://ciudadesincluyentes.org Date of publication: Submitted
Computer Aided Design
AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch Up, Rhinoceros, LUMION, QGIS.
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Project
Others (3D Printing and LaserCut) GrabCAD, CURA, Repetier ColiDo, TROTEC JobControl
Deutsche School Playground
BEMOV / Escenarios Deportivos
Professional work.
Landscape and public space designer at BEMOV
Completed project BEMOV, 2021.
Puerto Colombia,Atlantico, Colombia
This landscape and playground design project represents a dynamic fusion of natural exploration and purposeful outdoor furniture tailored to children’s diverse ways of learning through play. By blending the existing landscape with thoughtfully designed playing areas, the project creates an outdoor learning environment that extends the classroom beyond its walls. Age-appropiate (and universally inclusive) playing structured and multi-sensory elements foster both physical activity and cognitive development, transforming the playground into an inmmersive space where learning and discovery thrive in nature.
As the designer, I led the project through all stages, from conceptual client presentations and approvals (from children, parents, professors and school directors), existing landscape and vegetation evaluation to overseeing the construction process (contractors and quotations). My role included managing the integration of graphic and technical materials, ensuring the design intent was carried through every detail. From early concept sketches to built in/site execution.
The concept:
The inner nature as a learning path
[“Playground fantasy”]
Deutsche Schule children drawings
Through a participative design process, where children played a central role, the concept integrates users’ needs, expectations, and appreciation of the existing landscape and environment. The Deutsche Schule is located on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Barranquilla, Colombia, a tropical ecosystem rich in biodiversity, fauna, and flora that children engage with in a multi-sensory way. These natural elements became essential design principles, alongside the executive authorities’ request for a color palette aligned with the school’s institutional flag and identity.
The proposal drew inspiration from the children’s representations, creating rounded surfaces where colors and textures blend with the existing topography and vegetation to stimulate the senses and enhance biodiversity throughout the playground. Each zone emphasizes a specific experience tailored to the childern’s age groups, such as fostering imagination for early years, promoting friendship and integration for children aged 4-6, and encouraging exploration for children aged 6-12, where the topography and vegetation become more dynamic and changing.
Z1
Z2
Z5
Z1 Zone 1: 0-3 Years Old Zone 2: 4-6 Years Old Zone 3: Existing playground Zone 4: Existing playground Zone 5: 6-12 Years Old
Fostering education and skillsdeveloping through play
The vegetation palette strategy was developed based on the analysis of existing plant species identified on-site. The surface design and furniture location aimed to preserve and enhance the local ecosystem by prioritizing native and adaptative species that thrive in the region’s climate and soil conditions.
By integrating these species strategically throughout the landscape, the design fosters ecological resilience, reducing maintenance needs and water consumption while creating spaces that are both funcional and visually harmonious by reinforcing the natural biodiversity as part of each playground identity.
Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Section C-C’
Shallow root (superficial root) system
Taproot (deep root) system
Concrete ground anchor system (Hardscape)
Low boundary wall barrier for roots zones
Concrete ground rubberized surface
Low boundary wall barrier with grate Tree grate
Planting strategy and playground an- choring systems
The planting strategy considered to maintain roots healthy and safe during project execution, this mean that a small study of root typolgies was done to define the most appropiate solution for each scenario. For large trees on soft natural surfaces to protect root zones it is done with mulching, soil aeration, and roots barriers, while minimizing soil compaction to promote water infiltration and nutrient exchange. Understory planting with native species further stabilizes the area.
In hardscape areas, structural soil cells or suspended pavements are used to allow root growth nemeath paved surfaces, ensuring sufficient soil volume, drainage, and aeration. Permeable pavers, tree grates, and irrigation systems support tree health in compacted or more urban environments. Following the same criteria, two anchoring systems are used for the playground furniture in hard concrete surfaces.
COL
Terravera
Agro-touristic complex project
Professional work
Landscape design
Designed and delivered project Studio ODDI Architteti Assocc, 2020.
Castel SanGiovanni, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
The design concept centered on “framing the landscape for all”. The goal was to craft an immersive experience that allows visitors, regardless of physical ability, to fully access and appreciate the beauty of the site. Set within a vibrant tapestry of wineyards, a hostel, a restaurant, and a camping area, the project seeks to create pathways that harmoniously interact with the natural elements, including the undulating topography, a sere river, dense forests, and curated existing park spaces.
The owners’ aspiration to showcase their land’s unique features inspired the creation of universally accessible routes after its condition, inspiring this proposal to ensure that everyone can engage with the landscape’s richness from the rows of the wines to the tranquil riverside. As the project architect, I worked directly with the senior designer to develop the pathway solutions, technical details and material for client presentation and municipality approvals.
Framing the landsca- pe for all through uni- versally accessible routes
The project zoning was thoughtfully organized to enhance the user experience while maintaning accessibility. The hotel and restaurant were positioned at a central node, providing a hub that connects the vineyards, camping area, and natural features.
To ensure a seamless flow, the pathways were developed to highlight key views, such as the expansive vineyard row and the river. By aligning these routes with the existing topography and existing pathways, the design preserved the natural feel of the landscape, minimizing the impact on the environment intervention while offering accesible slopes and reducing steep gradients to create a welcoming journey for all kind of visitors.
River
Forest
Wineyards
Hotel and Restaurant
Wineyards
Camping zone
Forest Park
Paved path Road
Existing Path: Main axis
Preserving the natural feel through existing accessible slopes
Three main pathway proposals emerged from this zoning strategy. The first used the existing paths as primary axes, guiding visitors through the vineyard with gentle curves and views of the park and forest. The second focused on shorter, direct routes between the campsite, forest and main entrance, strategically placed to campture moments of calm without transfor-
ming the landscape experience and materials (compacted rammed earth) taking as a starting point the existing path connected with the paved area. The third pathway plated with the subtle changes in elevation, weaving through the natural landscape to create and accessible loop that offered various perspectives without demanding extensive walking distances.
Curten steel path
Wooden deck path
Compacted rammed earth path
Framing attractive views
Wooden deck to level the slope
Medium height lighting
150x30 mm Timber panel
60x40 mm Timber panel
Concrete base
Framing panoramic views though pathway design strategy
The project focused on highlighting the landscape’s most striking views by carefully adjusting the level of intervention according to the terrain’s characteristics. In areas with gentle slopes, such as the vineyards and camping zone near the main access, a minimally invasive approach was taken with compacted rammed earth pathways, bleding seamlessly into the natural environment while providing stable, accessible routes. In the park and riverside areas, where the scenery demanded more interaction, medium-level interventions were introduced through wooden decks, offering elevated perspectives without disrupting the natural surroundings. For the steeper vineyards zones, a more striking contrast was created with metal decks that ensure accessibility and emphasize elevation changes.
Railing system
Viewpoint
Wineyard leveled access
Zincalume roofing PV4 e: 0,3 mm
Elastomeric waterproof membrane
Sheet metal flashing
Sheet metal gutter
Truss per/cal.
Metal stud profile
Fiber cement board 11mm
Sequential Revelation
Val Nure, Piacenza, Italy
Can design offer poetry to the possibility to the very strong forces of funcionality and utility of productive landscape? Should the landscape be subjected to change according to human perception of beauty or be introduced with elements that stimulate perceptive transformation? How can one be revolutionary yet not forget one’s identity?
Located 15 kilometers to the couth of the city of Piacenza, Cantine Romagnoli is nestled in the placid Val Nure along the left bank of the River Nure. The cantina landscape is charaterised by several natural boundaries like vegetation distribution, natural topography, landscape elements like lakes, forests, etc. initially conceived as visual/physical barriers, are now considered as discovered features of a productive landscape and the poetical similarities behind the wine productive process and the landscape revelarion produced by the spatial exploration of its elements. That is the startinf point of this landscape design proposal.
Landscape Design Studio “Cum Laude” work. with Ali Reza, Federico Sassi and Juan Tovar Prof. Sara Protasoni, Head of MSc. Politecnico di Milano, 2020.
Discovering the hidden
The design works on the principle of sequentual revelation, enhancing the user experience by ameliorating the perception of diversity through introduction of subtle architectural devices. While these interventions on one hand, exploit the physical characters of their associated landscape typology and on the other hand, they guide the user thorugh the entire process of grapes cultivation and wine production.
The revelation of the soil, the begenning of the experience, the continuation of growth process, transformation of the seed and the pinnacle that represents the climax of the revelation experience, bringing users to the top of the landscape view experience and at the same time, the critical point of the wine making process, but it is not the end of the journey, is uncertain, the last point, brings the users into a space for introspection, for reflection of how the user takes part as a landscape element and through this reflection, the restart of the journey is open to continue further or return with the new insight.
The beginning: The genesis of the seed
The intervention enlightens the conception of the sapling from a seed highlighting the stratigraphy that instils life into a dormant seed. The diverse layers of earth are reconstructed to inform the visitors about thi aspect of grape vine cultivation that otherwise is incomprehensible.
The experience is heightened by controlled access of natural light into the architectural device that essentially is below grade. While traversing the ramped path, the constantly changing eye level allows the users to have varying perceptions of the grape vines from different angles. The experience terminates into the framed view of the landmark on the top of the hill.
Visitors discover the different layers of the soil where the seed will grow. This experience is enriched by the different eye visual levels that users experience while crossing the first pavilion area. Where architecture soft intervantion play with topography levels to allow natural elements from the landscape like the soil to be framed as the protagonist of this point.
The metaphor of the sapling and the seed is also percieved by the visitors while they start their journey underground level and softly, with a very carefully light access control tries to make an analogy between how the see reaches the upper layers of the soil until the ground level
Concept scheme, Soil layers
Sub-surface soil: silt & clay
Subsolum gravel layer
Bedrock limestone layer
Wire mesh reinforced cladding layer
Retianing wall
Longitudinal section: soil revelation
The growth: Framing the seed growth
The playful arrangement of plazas placed at different levels dictated by the existing topography are a metaphor for the states of maturation of a grape vine from a sapling into a fully grown fruit bearing plant. This is represented through the changing volumes defined by walls that become bigger as one traverses the serpentine circulation. The colours of the surface paving too are symbolic of the colours of the vine across different seasons.
The walls with the information about the maturation process to inform the visitors on one hand frame different natural views while on the other nad define multifunctional flexible spaces for socialization one of which multiplies into and amphiteathre by exploiting the natural terrain. This spaced wall distribution vary depending as a metaphor, from the level of freedom every living being experience through maturation and growth process and this spacing leads the distribution and disposition of the vertical partitions of the intervention.
First wall: The restriction-born of the seed
Second wall: The growth-The elevated amphiteather
Third wall: The maturation-Expansion of the space
The last wall: The beginning of adulthood-Elevated viewpoint
The last space: The progression of life: Elevated contemplative plaza
The climax: The exhaleration moment
This landmark that also works as the highest viewpoint of the site, is compound by a metalic structure that grows from the soil and keeps its cantiliver character from different perspectives along the path and the site as well.
The metallic structure is covered by a corten steel structure that blends the landscape colors and texture but also states its architectural character in the middle of the agricultural land.
Transformation: Ascent
The intervention highlights the process of wine production after harvesting by means of three pavilions placed along the landings of the staggered staircases that take the visitors up the slope.
The design of the pavilions, each representing the crushing, fermentation and ageing processes. The subtle concrete cuboids from outside veil complex devices inside capable to stimulate the physical senses of the visitors passing through them adding richness to the sequential revelation experience. The concrete cuboids geometry and materiality design contrasts with the rest of the landscape elements where allows to focus all attention to the landscape due to its homogeneus appereance in its exterior but singularity in its interiors.
Water-level viewpoint
Underground wooden deck
Water-leveled wooden railing
Wooden deck leveled slope
The reflection: The journey’s introspection
The final intervention designed as a deck and positioned on the lake edge extends inside the water exploring its reflective nature. The visitors can go below the level of water from where a sequence of physical elements in different laters of time.
The are reflected as a part of the landscape in the mirror placed in the water which further reflects the mirror making the experience more dramatic allowing for deep introspection, this stimulates the contemplation of the landscape.
Longitudinal section: Introspection-reflection
Barceloop
Marina Prat Vermell, Barcelona, Spain
The odyssey of the time is the most interesting of all of our journeys. In fact, it is inspiring, enlightening and at time uplifting as well. We all have stories of our individual journeys spanning the warp and weft of our individual lives. However, it is the tale of the collective entity, a community, a society, manifested in its architecture and crafts, that could fire our imagination, give us a sense of history and enrich our approach to time itself. Talking about journeys, best are doors that take us back in time and introduce us to patterns and attitudes of a bygone era.
La Marina del Prat Vermell is one such tissue to the south of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, comprising of industrial, commercial and other similar buildings. This lesser talked about urban space and its industrial architecture is none the less a symbol of a progressive community that is part of. The design of the proposal “Barceloop” taking clues from the evolution of the city, thus frame the future in the relics of its industrial past.
Advanced Architectural & Urban design Studio “Cum Laude” work. with R. Altamirano, E. Ferrini, F. Sassi, A. Reza and R. Uriza Prof. Luis Vives Politecnico di Milano, 2020.
Intervention
The design comprises of a central spine defined by the existing buildings on one side and the new architecture on the other. This spine connects a series of courtyards that are inspired from the open courts and plazas of the gothic quarter.Separated visually from each other by public amenities, each courtyards has an unique character and a varying level of privacy defined by the surrounding buildings. This changing level of privacy is also multiplied vertically, where the green terraces over the parking offer added privacy compared to the more public central axis.
The aim of the project is the adaptative reuse of the existing industrial structures, through a liner volume along the periphery accomodating services and providing housing blocks with views to the central patio, bridging the existing and the new volumes through amenities that also define the character of the courtyards, a central patio related through various pedestrian accesses offering controlled visual connections and varying characters of courtyards offering changing experiences and spaces for social interactions.
User’s circulation design
Plantation strategy
Storm-watermanagmentsystem
Bridging the existing and the new volumes through built amenities also produce the unbuilt common areas also known as patios which characters are defined by the amenities functions. These courtyards offer changing experiences and spaces for social interaction, considering different activities like: temporary market area outside bank of food building, Loop’s outdoors co-working areas for employees, conference/exhibition/events area outside public library, an outdoor gym outside a housing areas and finally, a children playground outside a kindergarten.
The on-site storm water management system comprises five underground tanks each places in different courtyards that collect the rainwater from the surrounding buildings. The water collected is used for landscaping and toilets and the overflow from the tanks is diverted to the bio-swale running along the green buffer where it recharges ground water table. In case of rainwater excess, the water from the bio-swale goes into another underground collection tank which overflow is connected to the municipal drainage system.
Axonometry
Identity Character
“Framing the future in the relics of its industrial past” is the main conceptual inspiration for the proposal development. The idea is manifested through substracting from the existing volumes and adding new ones constrasting in architectural language and materiality. The rough distinctive industrial facade thus acts as a veil for the subtle new architecture behind, that reveals itself sequentially as one moves through its series of courtyards reminiscent of the gothic quarter, varying in functionality and level of privacy.
Typical vegetation from Barcelona public spaces
Facades/Structure conservation for new internal uses
Public space inbetween existing and new architecture
New Architectural language for housing
Green buffer zone areas
Train rail
Hibiscus Syriacus
Prunus Cerasifera
Nerium Oleander
Bauhinia Forficata
Jacaranda Mimosifolia
Prunus Cerasifera
Shaded Avenue Ornamental
Noise Buffer
Co-creation & technologies
Orange Architects professional work. 3D printing and model-making Orange Architects, 2020-2021.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
During my internship at Orange Architects I had the opportunity to join the “innovation group” an office’s initiative where all studio members besides their weekly tasks and activities related to projects, meet and develop strategies and discussions about new ways to optimize different design matters like model making and tangible tridimensional representation.
Universidad del Norte professional work. Participative design for public space transformation Urban co-creation laboratory, 2022-2024. COL
Barranquilla, Colombia
As an Urban and public space design Studio professor and researcher at Universidad del Norte, I had the opportunity to lauched together with the Inclusive Cities, Communities of Solidarity program (CICS) of ONU-Hábitat, an urban co-creation laboratory dedicated to better integrate refugees and migrants in highly vulnerable neighborhoods of Barranquilla like Villas del Mar, La Playa, through participative design of public and collective spaces. This urban co-creation lab had the chance to co-design with community members, private contractors and students, public space solutions through innovative methodologies where 3D printing and Inclusive Urban Marker resources enhance project inclusive communication and decision making processes and validation.
LABPRO: Model-making
The architectural model has always been an instrument to visualize, develop, and define architectural concepts and communicate ideas. It is a design medium, a means of representation, as well as an essential pedagogical tool. The term model defines both real objects and virtual constructions from unscaled, modest, and rough works to highly finished, precisely scaled, and detailed makings. Its the first practical experience of constructing.
During my experience working as a professor and researcher at Universidad del Norte, I actively integrated model-making to both my studios and course (architectural housing design studio, urban and public space design studio and history and theory: classical architecture and city) through design proccesses and methodologies in the case of studios where projects were developed during the semester (from conceptual, working and exhibition model) to 1:1 scale model construction (roman archs and finland historical houses in Colombia) for university exhbition events
Urban furniture exhibition model 3D Printed using ColiDo X
Removing 3D printing model parts
Model finishing feedbacks and suggestions
[ZOOM IN] Lasercut urban model
Facade detail for jury presentation
Lasercut tecnhique for urban model
Facade detail, manual technique paper and cardboard model
1:1 Scale model alert! University exhibition
Working model @ studio Architecture lego+polyestyrene
The Model as design learning tool: But...why should we make models?
As a professor and researcher whom was assigned the task to lead the architecture students learning process of modelmaking in the prototype laboratory-LabPro. I combined previous experiences from other jobs, like Product Integration Professional at ESWindows where I developed product manuals and guides for proccesses like assembly, installation, reglazing and maintenance architectural products, and combined with my experience at architectural design studio where models where an essential part of the design process. These knowledge helped me to develop not only instruction materials for model-making process, but also to integrate the model-making as a whole learning experience for the urban and architectural project development. Later on, published as a design and pedagogical research project at the Colombian Architectural Faculties Research book (ACFA).
I produced manuals and protocols to develop different types of models, like working models, exhibition models, 1:1 scale models, construction details, section models, etc. considering two main techniques: digital or technological tools such as: lasercut, 3D printing and CNC. And also, analogical techniques, specially for students of first semesters, using manual tools to built wood and rammed earth models in combination with maleable metals.
model making
URBAN
CO-CREATION LAB
Urban research project
Villas del Mar, COL
In cooperation with the UN-Habitat program Inclusive Cities, Communities of Solidarity (CICS), the Urban Laboratory for Territorial Integration and Habitat co-creation was launched, an initiative that has contributed to the urban planning of a highly vulnerable neighborhood in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia, with adaptative public space proposals that guarantee the rigth to the city for everyone, including locals, refugees and migrants.
More than 120 students, community leaders, private constructors and city council members participated in this process including urban furniture design, public space solutions and streets transformation through tactical urbanism and technologies implementation.
The initiative aim is to show how open source hardwares, softwares and digital making practices can help to guarantee and validate open, participative and inclusive design methodologies, where local communities contribute to their territories transformation by breaking the barriers of understanding of architectural representation and project communication.
The methodology reinterpreted the paradigm of academia figure as an open space where different stakeholders (including young citizens-architecture students), explore the potential of technological representation tools to effectively solve urban problems and prepare themselves for this real-life escenarios.
Villas del Mar La Playa:
Participative urban design solutions to face migration, climate emergency and informal settlements
Villas del Mar is one of the sectors that conform La Playa. Due to global climate emergency highest temperatures and flooding disasters started to affect local and historical population along the settlement.
Furthermore, Villas del Mar reports high numbers of migrant population, product of reasons like Venezuela’s political situation and internal colombian conflict. This situation increase the informal activity along natural disaster risks areas along Mallorquin swap not only affecting their lives and dwellings, but also affecting the natural ecosystem of the swamp.
Mixed technique models
Villas del Mar
High-way barrier
Mallorquin Swamp
Barranquilla
La Playa
Barranquilla city
La Ciénaga
martha-isabel-castilla-riasco the_arch_of_mic marthacastillar@gmail.com