Simón Vélez
Encyclopedia
Simón Vélez is a prize-winning architect, and the most eminent proponent of bamboo
as an essential building component.
Vélez has created joinery
systems that utilize bamboo as a permanent structural element in both residential and commercial structures. For four consecutive years. he has been invited by the Vitra Design Museum and the George Pompidou Center to conduct workshops in France in which structures of bamboo-guadua were built as an instructive exercise.
For Expo Hanover 2000, he designed and constructed a 2000-square-meter bamboo pavilion for ZERI Foundation (Zero Emissions Research and Initiative). The structure utilized bamboo, recycled cement, copper, and a mixture of terracotta, cement and bamboo fiber panels. It was the first time in history that a bamboo structure received a building permit in Germany. His partner and financier, Gunter Pauli in this project committed to convert bamboo as the symbol of poverty into the symbol of sustainability. With 6.4 million visitors it did become the most popular pavilion of the World Expo.
He recently participated in designing Crosswaters Ecolodge, the first ecotourism
destination in China in the forests of Nankun Shan Mountain Reserve, in the Guangdong Province. It the largest project in the world to the use bamboo in a commercial project, and the first project of this scale in Asia to use bamboo as a structural element in a dwelling. The project received the American Society of Landscape Architects
2006 Analysis and Planning Award of Honor.
To date, Vélez has designed bamboo buildings in Germany, France, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, China, Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and India.
His most current project is the Zócalo Nomadic Museum
in Mexico City, which houses Gregory Colbert's "Ashes and Snow."
In December 2009 he received The Principal Prince Claus Award for his contribution to a positive interaction between culture and development. This prestigious Dutch award, founded by the Royal Prince Claus(†), has a price of €100,000. Since 1997 the Prince Claus Awards are presented annually to artists, thinkers and cultural organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Collaborating with Sanjay Prakash, and in partnership with Pradeep Sachdeva, Simon Velez participated in EXPO 2010 Shanghai China as part of the team for the Indian pavilion.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
as an essential building component.
Life and Work
The son and grandson of architects, Simón Vélez was born in Manizales, Colombia, in 1949. He began his career forty years ago.Vélez has created joinery
Joinery
Joinery may refer to:* Woodworking joints or other types of mechanical joints * The work of the joiner, the fabrication and installation of fittings in buildings with materials such as wood and aluminum * In Australia and New Zealand, a joinery is also the generic term for a business which...
systems that utilize bamboo as a permanent structural element in both residential and commercial structures. For four consecutive years. he has been invited by the Vitra Design Museum and the George Pompidou Center to conduct workshops in France in which structures of bamboo-guadua were built as an instructive exercise.
For Expo Hanover 2000, he designed and constructed a 2000-square-meter bamboo pavilion for ZERI Foundation (Zero Emissions Research and Initiative). The structure utilized bamboo, recycled cement, copper, and a mixture of terracotta, cement and bamboo fiber panels. It was the first time in history that a bamboo structure received a building permit in Germany. His partner and financier, Gunter Pauli in this project committed to convert bamboo as the symbol of poverty into the symbol of sustainability. With 6.4 million visitors it did become the most popular pavilion of the World Expo.
He recently participated in designing Crosswaters Ecolodge, the first ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
destination in China in the forests of Nankun Shan Mountain Reserve, in the Guangdong Province. It the largest project in the world to the use bamboo in a commercial project, and the first project of this scale in Asia to use bamboo as a structural element in a dwelling. The project received the American Society of Landscape Architects
American Society of Landscape Architects
The American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects, with more than 17,000 members in 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 42 countries around the world, plus 68 student chapters...
2006 Analysis and Planning Award of Honor.
To date, Vélez has designed bamboo buildings in Germany, France, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, China, Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and India.
His most current project is the Zócalo Nomadic Museum
Nomadic Museum
The Nomadic Museum is a purpose-built temporary structure used to house the Ashes and Snow photography and film exhibition by Gregory Colbert.Gregory Colbert originally conceived of the idea for a sustainable traveling museum in 1999...
in Mexico City, which houses Gregory Colbert's "Ashes and Snow."
In December 2009 he received The Principal Prince Claus Award for his contribution to a positive interaction between culture and development. This prestigious Dutch award, founded by the Royal Prince Claus(†), has a price of €100,000. Since 1997 the Prince Claus Awards are presented annually to artists, thinkers and cultural organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Collaborating with Sanjay Prakash, and in partnership with Pradeep Sachdeva, Simon Velez participated in EXPO 2010 Shanghai China as part of the team for the Indian pavilion.