Sara Topelson de Grinberg
Encyclopedia
Sara Topelson de Grinberg (assumedly born in the beginning of 1945) is a Polish
-born Mexican
architect
.
to Mexico, when she was three months old. She studied architecture at the Faculty of Architecture
of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), architectural theory
at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional and history of art
at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA). Together with her husband José Grinberg she established the architecture bureau Grinberg & Topelson Arquitectos, and created together with him several residential, educational, industrial, commercial and cultural buildings, as well as recreation centers. She was professor of history of art at the Universidad Anáhuac and of its atelier of urban planning architecture. As professor she is also in charge at the International Academy of Architecture
(IAA).
Since 1982, she has been responsible for international affairs of the Federation of National Colleges of Architects of the Republic of Mexico (FNCARM), and has been council member of the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) since 1990, where she was vice-president from 1993, and president from 1996 to 1999. Topelson was the first female president of the UIA. In May 1998 she made knighted of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
.
Topelson was director of architecture and conservation of art estate treasures in the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. She was director of urban planning in the Miguel Hidalgo delegation
as well as main coordinator of the Research and Documentation center. On January 5, 2007, president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa made her undersecretary of Urban Development and Territory Planning in the Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL).
She is emeritus member of the Academia Nacional de Arquitectura (ANA) and of the Academia Mexicana de Arquitectura
(AMA), and honorary member of the American Institute of Architects
, member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
(RAIC), of the Asociación Nicaragüense de Ingenieros y Arquitectos, of the Colegio de Arquitectos de Venezuela, of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects
(RAIA), of the Japan Institute of Architects
(JIA), as well as honorary member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
since 2002 and of the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Biography
Topelson is born to a Russian father and a Polish mother. Her family fled NazismNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
to Mexico, when she was three months old. She studied architecture at the Faculty of Architecture
Faculty of Architecture (UNAM)
The Faculty of Architecture at UNAM is one of the leading schools of architecture and design in Mexico. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urbanism and Industrial Design.-History:...
of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), architectural theory
Architectural theory
Architectural theory is the act of thinking, discussing, or most importantly writing about architecture. Architectural theory is taught in most architecture schools and is practiced by the world's leading architects. Some forms that architecture theory takes are the lecture or dialogue, the...
at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional and history of art
History of art
The History of art refers to visual art which may be defined as any activity or product made by humans in a visual form for aesthetical or communicative purposes, expressing ideas, emotions or, in general, a worldview...
at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA). Together with her husband José Grinberg she established the architecture bureau Grinberg & Topelson Arquitectos, and created together with him several residential, educational, industrial, commercial and cultural buildings, as well as recreation centers. She was professor of history of art at the Universidad Anáhuac and of its atelier of urban planning architecture. As professor she is also in charge at the International Academy of Architecture
International Academy of Architecture
The International Academy of Architecture - a non-profit-making company for performing activities for private benefit is a non-governmental and non-profit organization with special status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council , located in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Bulgarian name is also...
(IAA).
Since 1982, she has been responsible for international affairs of the Federation of National Colleges of Architects of the Republic of Mexico (FNCARM), and has been council member of the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) since 1990, where she was vice-president from 1993, and president from 1996 to 1999. Topelson was the first female president of the UIA. In May 1998 she made knighted of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
.
Topelson was director of architecture and conservation of art estate treasures in the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. She was director of urban planning in the Miguel Hidalgo delegation
Miguel Hidalgo, D.F.
Miguel Hidalgo is one of the 16 delegaciones into which Mexico's Federal District is divided. The borough includes some of the most affluent parts of Mexico City, such as Lomas de Chapultepec and Polanco. Its population at the 2010 census was 372,889 inhabitants, and it lies at an elevation of...
as well as main coordinator of the Research and Documentation center. On January 5, 2007, president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa made her undersecretary of Urban Development and Territory Planning in the Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL).
She is emeritus member of the Academia Nacional de Arquitectura (ANA) and of the Academia Mexicana de Arquitectura
Academia Mexicana de Arquitectura
The Academia Mexicana de Arquitectura is a Mexican professional architectural organization, that participates in all national debates of architects.- Presidents :* Joaquin Alvarez Ordóñez...
(AMA), and honorary member of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
, member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada , founded in 1907, is a Canadian association representing over 3,600 architects, and faculty and graduates of Canadian Schools of Architecture.RAIC is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada...
(RAIC), of the Asociación Nicaragüense de Ingenieros y Arquitectos, of the Colegio de Arquitectos de Venezuela, of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
The Australian Institute of Architects is a professional body for architects in Australia. Until August 2008, the Institute traded as the "Royal Australian Institute of Architects", which remains its official name....
(RAIA), of the Japan Institute of Architects
Japan Institute of Architects
The Japan Institute of Architects is the most established Japanese professional body of free and autonomous architects as well as the Japanese section of the Union Internationale des Architectes...
(JIA), as well as honorary member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
since 2002 and of the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España
Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España
The Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España , is the higher council of Architects in Spain, and is the most established professional body of Spanish architects, located in the Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid...
.
Awards
- 1972: "Excelencia Académica" (excellent academic), Universidad Anáhuac
- 1996: "Woman of the year", bestowed by Óscar Espinosa Villarreal in order of Ernesto Zedillo
- 1998: Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
- 1988 "Bene Merentibus" medal of the Polish association of architecture
- Silver decoration of the Colegio de Arquitectos, Cataluña
- 25-year "Excelencia Académica" medal of academic merits, Universidad Anáhuac
- 2003: "Mario PaniMario PaniMario Pani Darqui was a Mexican architect and urbanist, one of the most active under the rule of president Miguel Alemán Valdés...
" medal, Colegio de Arquitectos de la Ciudad de México (CAM) in the Sociedad de Arquitectos de México (SAM)