CEMEX has announced that the Mexican landscape architect Mario Schjetnan Garduño is the winner of the 2017 “Lorenzo H. Zambrano” Award, for his professional trajectory and contribution to architecture through the design of public spaces that achieve a social, sustainable, and environmental purpose.
The “Lorenzo H. Zambrano” Award is granted each year to a different professional in the architecture and construction field, whose professional trajectory significantly contributes to the creation of better environments for communities and inspires new generations to propose innovative ways to further these disciplines.
Schjetnan’s work integrates the unique concepts and principles of architecture, urban and environmental design, and landscape architecture. The resulting projects each share a distinctive spatial concept, aesthetic, and clear social purpose.
With almost 50 years of experience, including 40 years at his firm Grupo de Diseño Urbano, Schjetnan’s works stands out for following non-traditional ways of undertaking architecture and urbanism and for designing spaces for all social conditions.
Through his interventions and projects, Schjetnan has helped to transform and regenerate over 1,000 hectares of public areas, universities, corporate offices, and urban developments throughout Mexico and the world. This includes the complete rehabilitation of the three sections of Chapultepec Park, a project that Schjetnan has developed over the past 14 years.
His recent projects include: the Parque Bicentenario in a former Pemex refinery in Azcapotzalco, a municipality of Mexico City; the Museum of the Copalita Eco-archeological Reserve in Huatulco, Oaxaca; the Interactive Museum Acertijo in Gomez Palacio, Durango; and the La Mexicana Park in Santa Fe, Mexico City, which is currently under development.
Schjetnan has also lectured at renowned universities around the world and promoting landscape architecture as a unique opportunity to build public, open spaces that reevaluate the social aspects of cities.
Created in 2000, this award pays tribute to Lorenzo H. Zambrano, who led CEMEX for three decades. Through his actions and initiatives, he led CEMEX’s growth into a global company, while maintaining a strong commitment to nature, sustainability, education, and art.
