Simón Vélez

Simón Vélez ( born February 2, 1949 in Manizales ) is a Colombian architect.

From 1968 to 1975 he studied at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, an architecture and art studies. Since the mid- 1980s he used bamboo as a building material. He was invited by the Vitra Design Museum and the Centre Georges Pompidou.

For the EXPO 2000 the Vélez Zeri Pavilion ( zero emission research initiative) designed with 40 meters in diameter and 17 meters high. He is called " Pope of bamboo architecture."

With the Nomadic Museum (Jan - April 2008 in Mexico City), he designed the largest bamboo structure.

Works

  • Grow your own House

Awards

2009 Simón Vélez won the € 100,000 Great Prince Claus Award in the Netherlands.

University of Los Andes (Colombia) Integrated Authority File
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