Architecture Competition Abu Dhabi Flamingo Visitor Center 3rd prize winners – Laurent Herbiet and Giordana Rojas

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd prize winners of our “Abu Dhabi Flamingo Visitor Center” competition – Laurent Herbiet and Giordana Rojas from Mexico!

HERBIET Team

The office is based in Mexico City, and it was conceived in 2008 with a multidisciplinary view in mind, working in the continuous development of an architecture that is not only functional but also with a high degree of sensibility to the site and the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, this search represents a constant care for environmental responsibility and for each client and their projects.

Throughout its 10 years of practice HRBT has developed public and private works, in addition to being present in the academic field. Today, the office is divided in two main world areas.

One branch of the team, Rainwater Systems (Spl.), is in charge of developing projects that relate specifically to water sustainability through rain-water harvesting and water recycling, introducing this mindset into new or existing projects to try to make them completely or partially independent from the city water supply, which aids in Mexico City’s water crisis.

The team not only develops the projects but also partake in the works by supplying and installing the required systems.

The other branch, Herbiet Arquitectos (HRBT), develops architecture projects that promote the use of local renewable materials and the use of sustainable technologies. They develop all kinds of projects, like residential, hospitality and leisure, retail, and public, among others. Both branches of the office eventually become a whole practice called Riparia.

MAIN ARCHITECTS Laurent Herbiet & Giordana Rojas

ARCHITECTURAL TEAM Andrés Burguete / Darío Romano / Sofía Posada / Fernanda Romero / Mariana Pérez

RENDERING Rommel González / Rgvisualizations

MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING Rubén Esparza / David Martínez / Laura Leal / Diego Ramírez / Mario Valera / Priscila Beltrán

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/individuals have been involved?

We have received the Honorific Mention in Sustainable Design and Architecture by Cemex in 2018 with the “AT House”.

Together with Taller Paralelo, we proudly have received the Silver Medal in Sustainable Design by the XV National Biennial of Mexican Architecture in 2018 and the Gold Medal in Design by the III Biennial of Young Architects in 2018 with “The pavilion for the Community Urban Farm and Food Center” in Mexico City.

Every year Laurent Herbiet is a guest professor in the Sustainable Design Workshop at the UNAM University and Giordana Rojas was invited to the Department of Sustainable Biomaterial at Virginia Tech within the Timber for Construction Workshop.

We have also been members of the Timber National Council for Construction (COMACO) since 2017.

Our experience includes designs of several constructed wetlands in Mexico City and residential, public and commercial projects.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Architecture for us represents the possibility to orchestrate the development of a better construction of the cities that surround us, taking into account that our impact on the environment is so great, we need to understand architecture as a regenerative process, both natural and social.

We firmly believe in sustainability as the only way forward, and our work as architects and planners has the ability to regenerate our world, to have a positive impact on the future of our world.

Biodiversity will be the single most important aspect of our fight against climate change, turning it into climate adaptation in the process, which will become a long–term action that needs to increase in speed and strength.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

We believe regenerative architecture and sustainable design will be a key aspect in the formation of future generations of architects and users of architecture.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

Competition is the mother of innovation, as well as the opportunity to think outside the realm of common architectural practice. It brings out the best of teams, as time and resources are limited and need to be dealt with innovatively.