On November 15, the Guatemala Architecture Biennial 2023 opened at the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center—one of the country's most important performing arts venues. While the previous 2021 edition recognized the importance of the city, architecture, and urban planning under the theme 'Mobility,' this latest iteration focuses on 'Public Space' under the slogan 'The City, Without Walls.' Over three days, this new approach will highlight public space as one of the most vital elements in urban planning, with a significant impact on citizens' social, psychological, and physical well-being.
"Any country should place public space at the heart of its development agenda for two main reasons: First, from an architectural and urban planning perspective, public spaces organize all surrounding land. Second, there is the emotional impact on people. Public spaces bring happiness to those who use them. They are essential because they provide areas to get fresh air, rest, enjoy nature, and meet new people. Ultimately, they improve physical and mental health," notes Esteban Borjes Castillo, general coordinator of BAG 2023.
The Guatemala Architecture Biennial originally kicked off on July 27 with seven virtual panel discussions. These conversations revolved around eco-friendly transit, education for the future, mixed-use development, the intersection of architecture and urbanism, and the question: What is the city? Now, during the in-person event, a variety of activities will take place, including tactical workshops led by professionals, ten keynote lectures by international architects, and panel discussions with Guatemalan specialists, organized in collaboration with design and development associations across the country.
On Wednesday, November 15, Michael Smith (Entre Nos Atelier) delivered the opening lecture. He focused on the importance of participatory processes and communities, referencing his acclaimed Costa Rican project Cueva de Luz, the concept of Spatial Justice, and his latest work. Later, Francisco Paillie and Ximena Ocampo (Dérive Lab) shared their extensive experience with "shared streets" in Santiago de Querétaro. To close out the day, Mexican architects Benjamín Peniche and Jorge Duarte Torre (Arkham Projects) reaffirmed the core purposes of architectural practice through a dynamic and engaging presentation highlighting context and culture in creative design.
Upcoming sessions will feature Bernardo Quinzaños (CCA), Jaime Cabal (DARP - De Arquitectura y Paisaje), Thais Sanches (Urban 95 Brasil), Ana Francisca de la Mora (ARCADIS), Ricardo Vives (Inciti SAS), and Ludwig Godefroy (Ludwig Godefroy Arquitectos), among others.
Additionally, the winners of the Danta Awards 2023, an architectural project competition for both professionals and students, will be announced on Thursday, November 16, at 6:30 PM. This year's jury, consisting of Rodrigo Martínez, Ludwig Godefroy, Fabian Dejtiar, Anayancy Rodríguez, Sofía Cabassa, and Dafne Acevedo, reviewed 75 submissions of built work and projects from across Central America. To view the previous winners, visit this link: winners of the previous edition.
See the full schedule for BAG 2023 at bienal.gt and follow @bienarqgt on Instagram for updates.
This article was written by Fabian Dejtiar. The translation is powered by AI.
