On September 23 the College of Architecture will host landscape architect Pedro Camarena for an exclusive lecture. Co-founder of LAAP Workshop and professor at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Camarena is an expert in ecological restoration, green infrastructure, and mobility. He previously served as the president of the Landscape Architects Society of Mexico, and was the organizer of the first Latin American Biennial of Landscape architecture
At UNAM, Camarena is a professor of the Design Workshop at the Academic Unit of Landscape Architecture. While he is an expert in urban landscaping interventions, he also serves as the chief of special projects at Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel, the university’s ecological park in Mexico City. Primarily this involves transforming formal gardens into “xero gardening” spaces, which greatly reduces the need for irrigation. Camarena has led more than 30 such projects at REPSA, including a “demonstration garden” featuring an exclusive collection of ornamental plants from the unique landscape of Pedregal de San Ángel, which is characterized by rocky, porous soil caused by geologically recent volcanic activity.
Camarena’s lecture, titled “Closing Cycles: Mexico City,” will present his comprehensive overview of his research on urban landscapes in Mexico City. This lecture speaks about the loss of complex landscape relationships between volcanoes and lakes in one of the largest and densest Latin American cities. Mexico City's landscape offers a unique opportunity to reclaim enduring values in the land where Aztec culture emerged.
The lecture will begin at 5 p.m. and is accessible via Zoom. Use the passcode 723663 for access.