Historically, urban development processes have reduced wetland areas and modified their natural border, affecting the ecosystem and its relationship with Bogotá’s ecological structure. Trails run along the edge of the wetland respecting its natural structure, allowing enjoyment, and understanding of the ecosystem while establishing a clear limit that will control further urban expansion.

Winner presentation to Wetland Vitality - Landscape design for environmental recovery, Bogotá, Colombia (l-r): Harry Gugger, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation, Principal of Harry Gugger Studio, and Professor Emeritus for Architectural & Urban Design, EPFL, Switzerland; Santiago Hurtado, Sebastián Mejia, and Edgar Mazo, Connatural, Medellín, Colombia; and Loreta Castro Reguera, Head of the Holcim Awards jury Latin America 2020, Design Director and Founder of Taller Capital, Mexico City.

Winner presentation to Wetland Vitality in Colombia - Landscape design for environmental recovery (l-r): Hashim Sarkis, Head of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2021; Erica Martinez, Edgar Mazo, Sebastián Mejia, Santiago Hurtado and Camila Angel of Connatural, Medellín, Colombia; Angelo Bucci, Member of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2021 and Co-founder and Principal of spbr arquitetos, São Paulo, Brazil; and Loreta Castro Reguera, Head of the Holcim Awards jury Latin America 2020.

The project recognizes the wetland’s structure. It establishes a transition area between the city and the ecosystem, creating a linear park of 5.5 km that highlights and protects diversity of natural, cultural, and historical landscapes through careful interventions. Trails run along the edge of the wetland, respecting its natural structure, allowing for the enjoyment and understanding of the ecosystem while establishing a clear limit to control the expansion of the urban development.

Presentation of the Global Holcim Awards Silver by Hashim Sarkis, Head of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2021 to team (l-r): Erica Martinez, Edgar Mazo, Sebastián Mejia, Santiago Hurtado and Camila Angel of Connatural, Medellín, Colombia with Angelo Bucci, Member of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2021 and Co-founder and Principal of spbr arquitetos, São Paulo, Brazil

Sebastián Mejia, of Connatural, Medellín, Colombia responds to winning the Global Holcim Awards Silver with Lorena Castro Reguera, Head of the Holcim Awards jury Latin America 2020 Design Director and Founder of Taller Capital, Mexico City

Ecological trail between the wetland and Bogotá River.

Natural qualities of wetland ecosystems.

Holistic analysis of current issues and design determinants.

Ecological trail and urban furniture on recovered areas of the wetland.

The use of native vegetation, extending the concept of the VIVA Botanical Collection to the park.

Preservation: Reduce physical interventions and protect the ecosystem’s autonomous development

Recover: the identity of the places, articulating them to current needs and aspirations.

Strengthen: Enhance existing conditions and needs of local ecosystem, and spatial and cultural needs.

These breaks in the paths allow for “pauses” when journeying through the park.

Paths permit a spatial experience bringing you closer to nature and the history of Muisca people.

Project main authors (l-r): Edgar Mazo and Sebastián Mejia from Connatural, Medellín, Colombia.

Work team. Connatural.