MaUP Student Wins the UIA 2030 Award for Sustainability

IAAC student Alejandro Vargas, currently enrolled in La Maestría en Urbanismo Próximo, along with team members David Mesa, Juan David Hoyos, Louis J. van Asten, Luisa Lara, Maria Camila Henao, Isabel Villegas, and Carolina Mejía, have been awarded the prestigious UIA 2030 Award for Sustainable Architecture. The team also won the Water as Leverage City Champion Challenge at the World Urban Forum 12 in Cairo, Egypt.

The winning project, titled “Parque Inundable La Torura,” was recognized by the International Union of Architects (UIA), UN-Habitat, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, and Deltares. The awards were presented during the World Urban Forum, held from November 4 to 8, 2024, in Cairo.

Representing the team, Alejandro Vargas Marulanda shared insights into the project:

Project Overview:

The municipality of Entrerríos, located in northern Antioquia, Colombia, is endowed with significant water resources that have been increasingly threatened by economic and industrial pressures. Territorial modifications for livestock and dairy industries have led to severe issues, including contamination of primary water sources, loss of ecosystems, and recurrent flooding—exacerbated by climate change. These challenges have resulted in loss of life and significant economic damage in recent years.

The La Torura stream, the municipality’s main water source, has been particularly affected. The project’s primary objective is to mitigate the effects of climate change, specifically the risk of flooding, by creating a public space system that integrates productive and cultural landscapes with water risk management while enhancing the region’s environmental wealth.

Key Features of “Parque Inundable La Torura”:

  • Dual Functionality: During dry periods, the park serves as a recreational and cultural space for the local community. During the rainy season, it acts as a water storage system, capturing excess flow and releasing it slowly through infiltration, reducing the risk of flooding.
  • Water Containments (“Jarillones”): These structures feature oblique surfaces that support diverse public activities, such as children’s play areas, passive relaxation spaces, event zones, and water body reconnection areas.
  • Support Pavilion: The park includes a pavilion that functions as a cultural gallery and viewpoint, creating a seamless connection to the municipality’s office building and redefining the town’s relationship with its main water tributary.

This innovative project underscores the importance of coexisting with nature’s rhythms and highlights sustainable approaches to urban design. By addressing both environmental challenges and community needs, “Parque Inundable La Torura” sets an example for adaptive and resilient urban planning.

Congratulations from IAAC

IAAC extends heartfelt congratulations to Alejandro Vargas and the team for their remarkable achievement. We wish them continued success in their endeavors to shape sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

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