Giancarlo Mazzanti Arquitectos, Bogota Architects Office, Colombian Design Studio

Giancarlo Mazzanti : Bogotá Arquitectos

Contemporary Colombian Buildings, South America: Interview & Film News

New interview with Bogotá-based architect Giancarlo Mazzanti

Giancarlo Mazzanti on Social Spaces for Learning

Plane-Site’s production team traveled to Bogotá to speak with Giancarlo about his experimental approach to design research and learn more about his ‘spaces for learning’.

Flor del Campo Educational Center building:

photo © Cristobal Palma, Estudio Palma, Courtesy El Equipo de Mazzanti 2

6 Sep 2019

Architect Giancarlo Mazzanti

CHALLENGING EFFICIENCY

Bogotá-based architect Giancarlo Mazzanti creates scenarios for play in daily life. In this video interview from PLANE—SITE, Mazzanti elaborates on his experimental approach to design research and guides us through several of his ‘spaces for learning’, including the Baby Gym in Barranquilla, 21 Atlantico Kindergartens in Atlantico and El Porvenir Kindergarten in Bogotá.

Many of these projects are situated in low-income neighborhoods and act as catalysts for social change, bringing joy and pride to marginalized communities.

Flor del Campo Educational Center building:

photos © Cristobal Palma, Estudio Palma, Courtesy El Equipo de Mazzanti 2

Mazzanti is deeply curious about how a building’s shape informs behavior and pedagogy. His firm, El Equipo de Mazzanti, is behind numerous schools and educational centers, designed to encourage playful and exploratory movement and social relations.

The passage of a student from one end of the space to another is disrupted with elements such as trampolines, plants or climbing areas. As Mazzanti says in the video: “Play has a very important role in society.” How can a space simultaneously cultivate joy and, by facilitating unexpected behaviors and relations, act as another teacher?

Pies Descalzos School building by Giancarlo Mazzanti Arquitectos:

photos : Sergio Gomez, Courtesy El Equipo de Mazzanti

In the video, we see how the object interaction and modular design is integral to Mazzanti’s innovative process. Yet, beyond the form of the building, its peculiar and modular spatial geometry connects it to the community around it, in an endless collaboration.

Timayui Kindergarten building by Giancarlo Mazzanti Arquitectos:

photos : Jorge Gamboa, Courtesy El Equipo de Mazzanti

ABOUT GIANCARLO MAZZANTI AND EL EQUIPO DE MAZZANTI
Giancarlo Mazzanti (1963, Barranquilla, Colombia) is the founder and principal of El Equipo de Mazzanti, a Colombian design studio specializing in socially driven architectonic design and academic research. With over twenty-five years’ experience, the studio has gained wide national and international recognition. The studio’s practice is characterized by open, collective and non-hierarchical working processes. It aims to contribute towards social transformation and wellbeing, devising detailed contextual research and involving local actors throughout its design processes.

Mazzanti has taught in several Colombian universities and at Princeton, Harvard and Columbia. His work is exhibited in MoMA’s and Pompidou’s permanent collections.

ABOUT PLANE—SITE

PLANE—SITE is a content agency working at the interface of urban form, cultural space and social life at a global scale. We believe we can improve the built environment with inspiring and informative content that leaves a lasting mark. Our mission is to accelerate positive change in design, architecture, ecologies and cities.

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Giancarlo Mazzanti on Social Spaces for Learning from PLANE—SITE on Vimeo.

Giancarlo Mazzanti – Major Building

España Library, Santo Domingo, Colombia
Date built: 2007

photo : Sergio Gómez
Biblioteca Pública Santo Domingo
The Project is located on one of the hillsides of the city that have been affected by harsh violence since the 80´s because of several drug traffic networks that operate within its perimeter. It is part of the government’s social master plan program that aims to give equal economic and social opportunities to the population.

Giancarlo Mazzanti – Key Projects

Major Projects by Giancarlo Mazzanti Arquitectos, alphabetical:

El Porvenir School, Bogotá, Colombia
Date built: 2010

Habitar 72 + Habitar 74 : residential buildings, Bogotá
–

Leon de Grief Library Park, La Ladera, Medellín
2007

Nazca restaurant, Bogotá
2004
Giancarlo Mazzanti + Paula Galarza

Timayui Kindergarten, Santa Marta, Colombia
2011

More design projects by Giancarlo Mazzanti online soon

Location: Bogota, Colombia, South America

Colombian Architecture Practice Information

Architect office based in Bogotá, Colombia

Colombian Architects

Colombian Architecture News

Architecture in Colombia

Colombia Architecture : links

Bogotá Architecture Tours

Medellin River Parks Botanical Park Master Plan
Design: Sebastian Monsalve + Juan David Hoyos

photos : Alejandro Arango
Medellin River Parks Botanical Park Master Plan