PORTFOLIO
01 casa del manglar
As my final project, I proposed an architectural design that functions as a transitional node between an urban and a natural environment. The project aims to address the issue of informal settlement while creating spaces for community engagement and interaction.
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This educational project proposes an intervention that foster respect for nature and encouraging the responsible use of local materials. this school is defined by creating zones of respect for nature, using them as areas for agriculture that are articulated with a system of patios proposed.
This portfolio contains selected works from different mediums, scales, levels of detailing, and typologies, chosen to best showcase my personal interests and skills adopted for my design process.
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03 earth school the thinking hand monument volver
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In 2018, an attack at the “Escuela de Cadetes General Santander” claimed the lives of 22 police officers, marking a painful moment in Colombian history. In honor of these heroes, we participated in a competition to design a monument to commemorate their lives. The monument was built and inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Colombia in 2019.
To sketch for me represents a way to understand the spaces i find myself into, a way to abstact and reduce what i observe to its purest essence, a way to represent the ideas of what is not existing (yet).
A personal story of what photography represents to me. accompanied of a series of film photographs that captures the essence of my stay in New York.
CASA DEL MANGLAR
context:
Displacement, the housing deficit, and migration have resulted in hybrid communities formed by people from various towns in Colombia. These communities, along with the lack of spaces for communal interaction, have slowly shaped a society devoid of a sense of belonging. This has created social voids, manifesting in gang conflicts, invisible borders, vandalism, crime, land invasions, and environmental degradation.
The lack of urban growth limits
allows for informal settlements, which in turn lead to the destruction of the mangrove ecosystem. which behave as natural barriers against flooding and erosion. These ecosystems also serve as biodiverse habitats for a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic species.
It is crucial to address these issues with design measures that intervene in the space to prevent environmental degradation and protect the quality of life of its inhabitants.
This project presents an intervention aimed at bridging the gap between the built urban environment and the natural surroundings. At the same time, it provides the community with spaces for education, reunion and recreation, thereby strengthening the neighborhood’s identity through cultural expression.
fish farming
stage for cultural exhibitions
room
administration area
A phase of community workshops and interviews was carried out in collaboration with students and a lecturer from the Architecture Department at MIT. that later developed their master thesis in this area as well
After conducting a reconnaissance transect, interviews with residents, and workshops with local school students, several challenges were identified, such as flooded areas, invisible barriers, and contaminated water channels. Additionally, opportunities were also found in the open spaces, which the community reinterprets as their playground.
area of intervention
phase a - transition node: space for recreation, pisciculture, and cultural events.
phase c - connection: landscape intervention to conect phase a & b.
phase e - connection: landscape intervention to connect phase b & d.
b - ecological plaza: recollection of plastic, and educational space.
phase
phase d - access node: plaza with commerce to access the lineal park.
phase f - natural node: viewing points to the mangrove ecosystem and to Cartagena.
DETAIL SECTION
Pisciculture pool for the education and production of the community. A space for cultural exhibitions from the community.
Execution of Module 01: multipurpose room, administrative office, storage areas, and administration.
Through a transitional space between the urban and natural environments, the project aims to consolidate areas where cultural expressions and education take center stage, contributing through these practices to the prosperity of the community.
Contribute to the productivity of the sector by creating educational spaces focused on the community’s strengths. These flexible spaces can accommodate commercial activities, serve as landmarks that connect people with nature, and host ecotourism activities.
EARTH SCHOOL COMPETITION
The establishment of this school was guided by defining zones for respect, cultivation, and a patio system, creating a responsible and productive intervention that addresses the community’s specific needs. Flexibility is a key element, allowing for more than just predetermined spaces with specific classroom uses. It also offers the possibility of being arranged in different configurations according to the needs of both the school and the community.
01. TO RECOGNIZE zones of respect for existing vegetation in order to stablish a patio system
03. TO LINK an stablished flexible axis to the educational spaces
02. TO APPROACH THE VOID to define the intervention area through the available spaces where there is no existing vegetation
04. TO CONSOLIDATE the modules and its relations with the patio system
• civic axis (multipurpose space)
• 2 classrom’s
• Teacher’s room
• Director’s office
• 4 letrines for children
• 2 letrines for teachers
• storage
• 2 classrom’s
• 4 letrines for children
• 2 classrom’s
• civic axis (multipurpose space) stage 2
• 2 classrom’s
it is projected an axis that connects and promote agricultural activities in the community
this school is defined by creating zones of respect for nature, using them as areas for agriculture that are articulated with the patio system proposed.
DETAIL SECTION
CONFIGURATION #1
Each module functions as two separate classrooms.
CONFIGURATION #2
each module functions as a single classroom for hosting larger groups of students.
CONFIGURATION #3
The modules and the civic axis work together as a space capable of hosting a broad variety of events.
classroom modules - configuration #2
THE CIVIC AXIS is the a multipurpose space that articulates the classrooms with the agricultural gardens
This project was done in collaboration with a group of friends Role: Concept design iterations, 3d model, construction documents
Context:
In memory of the 22 national heroes who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on January 17, 2019, at the General Santander Cadet School.
this monument is the result of an architectural competition aimed at honoring the lives of the 22 heroes who lost their lives in a terrorist attack on January 17, 2019, at the General Santander Cadet School in Bogotá. The monument was built and later inaugurated by the President of Colombia. It was envisioned for ti to be part of the pedestrian path. accompanying the visitors on their journey.
It begins very subtly, giving the impression that it emerges from the ground; however, as the path progresses and nears its end, it rises to form three windows, symbolic of the pillars of the National Police: God, Homeland, and Institution. These open windows invite us, as spectators, to pause for a moment, to adopt an attitude of reflection and appreciation for what surrounds us; in essence, they are a tribute to life and hope.
The placement of the main monument marks the culmination of the linear park, serving as the final point of the journey. This strategic positioning symbolizes the end of life. The open windows represent dreams that will live on forever within the institution and in the hearts of all Colombians, who, every day, aspire to a brighter future.
“They did not die, because it is their dreams the windows that allow us to look into eternity”
“Vegetation, as a symbol of hope, is reflected in the way it finds its path amidst the adversity and harshness of the asphalt.”
3 core principles: • God • Homeland • Institution (Family)
“VENTANAS A LA ETERNIDAD” “Windows to the eternity”
Materials: Technical pen, Watercolor ink
Date: 2018
THE THINKING HAND
To sketch for me represents a way to understand the spaces i find myself into, a way to abstact and reduce what observe to its purest essence, a way to represent the ideas of what is not existing (yet).
2017-2024
CARTAGENA BALCONIES
Date: 2018
UNTITLED 01
Materials: Technical pen, Watercolorr ink
UNTITLED 02
Materials: Technical pen, Watercolorr ink
Date: 2018
Materials: Technical pen, markers
Date: 2017
CARTAGENA STREETS 01
Materials: Technical pen, markers
Date: 2020
CARTAGENA STREETS 02
Materials:
Date: 2019
THOUGHT PROCESS FOR A MODULAR HOUSE
Pencil and markers
Materials: Technical pen
Date: 2024
BEDROOM
Date: 2024
FRIENDLY FACES
Materials: Oil pastel crayoons
Materials: markers
Date: 2023
A PIET OUDOLF GARDEN
The Journey of going back home captured in film
Photography: Cristian Almario
Location:
Capturing moments through the lens of a camera has always been an interest of mine. I still remember being a kid, playing with my parents’ 35mm point and shoot, only realizing weeks later that most of the negatives were blurry, out of focus, or wrongly exposed. It wasn’t until years later when I got my first digital camera that I was able to become the designated photographer for family trips, outings, and casual events.
Over time, I developed a passion for photography, and along with the evolution of technology and accessibility of phones it became easier to carry a decent camera wherever you go. That’s when I started being more consistent and actually learning from my mistakes. I began to understand more about framing, composition, layering, and other techniques.
In 2022 my career propelled me to a life in New York City. Everything was so new to me; I felt as though I had stepped into a movie or TV show from my childhood. Every corner store, subway station, jazz bar, park, building, even the empty lots, reminded me of places I had only imagined in fiction. This magical sense of familiarity and excitement made me eager to capture more and more photographs.
Bruno, a good friend and roommate in NYC, encouraged me to give film another try, that I wouldn’t regret it. And he was right. At first it was hard to navigate through the failure and the expectations I set for myself. Oftentimes it still is. But what I came to realize is that this was a blessing. Rather, I get to fully enjoy the moment more so than the photo itself; to shoot with intention because the roll has limited amount of shots. the direction of the sun, the aperture, and the film stock i choose before leaving home will be important for what i want to communicate.
Daniel Arnold, a phographer I admire once said. “digital photography is a conversation i have with success. Film photography is a conversation with failure.” In a sense, I now live my life in this way.
Fuzzy memories, like it never happened, like it was all a dream. New York, 2024.
The series of photos presented in this section began as a personal collection of memories, representing what it meant to return home to Colombia, while also leaving behind a place that had just started to feel like home. Some of these photos became part of a project for a clothing collection I worked with friends from Colombia. The commercial for said collection was a collaboration with Bruno, in which I took on the role of creative director. More about this project can be found by clicking here
My name is Cristian Almario. I am a Colombian architect with a genuine interest in designing better, more sustainable, and comfortable spaces for human interactions, creating experiences, and telling stories that connect with people through different mediums—whether it’s a building, a landscape intervention, a collection of drawings, or a photography series.
After graduating with my degree in architecture, I have worked on designing residential and retail buildings, public spaces, and architectural competitions for projects in Colombia. In recent years, my focus has shifted to designing landscape architecture projects in various cities worldwide, from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. While living in New York from 2022 to 2024, working in this field has given me the tools to design each project with the sensitivity to respond to its context, with equal care for what happens inside and outside.
I have experience being involved in the different phases of a project’s life, from concept to construction documents and coordination on the construction site.
I have a special ability for analog and digital representation, design, and photography.
cristian almario - selected works