Colombia Architecture Biennial 2026 Recognizes Four Projects You Can Actually Visit
Architecture is often judged by how a building looks. But some of Colombia’s most notable architectural projects are increasingly being recognized for another quality: how people experience them. The XXX Colombian Architecture and Urbanism Biennial 2026 highlighted projects in Barranquilla, Bogota, Armero, and Medellin that go beyond design to create spaces that can be visited, […]
In Colombia, the XXX Colombian Architecture and Urbanism Biennial 2026 has identified four architectural projects that go beyond mere design and create spaces for visitors to experience. The biennial, organized by the Colombian Society of Architects, selects projects that showcase technical and aesthetic quality along with an understanding of their urban, environmental, historical, social, and cultural contexts.
One of the standout projects is Cienaga de Mallorquin Ecopark in Barranquilla, which won the 2026 National Architecture and Urbanism Award. Designed by DEB Architecture and El Equipo Mazzanti, the ecopark celebrates a wetland ecosystem that was previously degraded. Visitors can explore the mangroves, walk along trails, observe birds, and engage with a thriving natural landscape. The project has become a popular tourism destination, attracting over a million visitors since its creation.
Another notable project is LUMINA Cultural & Gastronomic District in Bogota, located at Hacienda Santa Barbara. This project, curated by Cine Colombia, integrates cinemas, gastronomy, culture, and social spaces. Originally focused on creating new cinema screens, the project evolved into a broader cultural and gastronomic destination during the pandemic. President Munir Falah of Cine Colombia notes that the transformation allows the architecture to be used and experienced rather than merely observed.
In Armero, Tolima, the Acupunturas de Memoria y Paisaje en la Antigua Armero: Iglesia Jardin de San Lorenzo project by Fiallo Atelier and Jesus Fiallo received the Dicken Castro Duque Award for Ephemeral Architecture. This intervention focuses on the ruins of the former San Lorenzo church, incorporating remnants of the building with vegetation and memories of the 1985 Armero tragedy. Rather than rebuilding, the project creates a landscape where visitors can contemplate the historical event while moving through the ruins.
Finally, Medellin's Corredores Azules: Mi Rio, Mis Quebradas project won the Karl Brunner Award for Urban and Regional Planning. The initiative aims to transform Medellin's extensive network of streams and waterways into ecological and public-space corridors. With 4,217 streams and 2,261 kilometers of waterways, the project proposes interventions at 191 critical points and 17 high-risk areas, while also improving over 62,000 square meters of public space.
By turning waterways into public spaces, Medellin demonstrates how architecture can create accessible and functional experiences for its residents and visitors.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
